Authority Quotes by Alexander Hamilton

It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority.

— Alexander Hamilton

[W]e must extend the authority of the Union to the persons of the citizens - the only proper objects of government.

— Alexander Hamilton

Nothing is more natural to men in office, than to look with peculiar deference towards that authority to which they owe their…

— Alexander Hamilton

The power of creating new funds upon new objects of taxation, by its own authority, would enable the national government to borrow…

— Alexander Hamilton

If the end be clearly comprehended within any of the specified powers, and if the measure have an obvious relation to that…

— Alexander Hamilton

In a government framed for durable liberty, not less regard must be paid to giving the magistrate a proper degree of authority,…

— Alexander Hamilton

The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national…

— Alexander Hamilton

The idea of restraining the legislative authority, in the means of providing for the national defense, is one of those refinements which…

— Alexander Hamilton

I confess I am at a loss to discover what temptation the persons entrusted with the administration of the general government could…

— Alexander Hamilton

There can be no limitation of that authority which is to provide for the defense and protection of the community in any…

— Alexander Hamilton

The experience of past ages may inform us, that when the circumstances of a people render them distressed, their rulers generally recur…

— Alexander Hamilton

Hence, in a state of nature, no man had any moral power to deprive another of his life, limbs, property, or liberty;…

— Alexander Hamilton

The states have authority to interpret the Constitution, enforce it, and protect the people from violations of it by the federal government…

— Alexander Hamilton

The constitution of human nature" teaches us not to expect "that the persons, entrusted with the administration of the affairs of the…

— Alexander Hamilton

Man is very much a creature of habit. A thing that rarely strikes his senses will generally have but little influence upon…

— Alexander Hamilton

That instability is inherent in the nature of popular governments, I think very disputable … A representative democracy, where the right of…

— Alexander Hamilton

The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one…

— Alexander Hamilton

The President is to be commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States. In this respect his authority would be…

— Alexander Hamilton

[E]very act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative…

— Alexander Hamilton

Tyranny has perhaps oftener grown out of the assumptions of power, called for, on pressing exigencies, by a defective constitution, than out…

— Alexander Hamilton

The instrument by which it [government] must act are either the AUTHORITY of the laws or FORCE. If the first be destroyed,…

— Alexander Hamilton

Of all the cares or concerns of government, the direction of war most peculiarly demands those qualities which distinguish the exercise of…

— Alexander Hamilton

If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people,…

— Alexander Hamilton

It is far more rational to suppose that the courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the…

— Alexander Hamilton

There is no position which depends on clearer principles than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the commission under…

— Alexander Hamilton

It may safely be received as an axiom in our political system, that the state governments will in all possible contingencies afford…

— Alexander Hamilton

The same state of the passions which fits the multitude, who have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide…

— Alexander Hamilton