Alexander Hamilton on human passions - 1788

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"To judge from the history of mankind, we shall be compelled to
conclude that the fiery and destructive passions of war reign in
the human breast with much more powerful sway than the mild and
beneficent sentiments of peace; and that to model our political
systems upon speculations of lasting tranquillity would be to
calculate on the weaker springs of human character. "

-- Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 34, 4 January 1788)

Reference: Hamilton, Federalist No. 34 (208)

George Washington - 1789

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Founders' Quote Daily

"Your love of liberty - your respect for the laws - your habits
of industry - and your practice of the moral and religious
obligations, are the strongest claims to national and individual
happiness."

-- George Washington (letter to the Residents of Boston, 27
October 1789)

Reference: Maxims of George Washington, Schroeder, ed. (139)

Alexander Hamilton on politicions - 1787

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the
greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious
court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants. "

-- Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 1, 27 October 1787)

Reference: Hamilton, Federalist No. 1 (35)

Thomas Jefferson on the Constitution

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Founders' Quote Daily

"Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written
Constitution.  Let us not make it a blank paper by construction."

-- Thomas Jefferson (letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803)

Reference: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson (Memorial Edition),
Lipscomb and Bergh, eds., 10:419.