Advantage Quote by Alexander Hamilton
“The injury which may possibly be done by defeating a few good laws, will be amply compensated by the advantage of preventing a number of bad ones.”
About This Quote
Source Founding Father: The Federalist Papers, 1788
Compromising on some good laws can be justified if it prevents many worse ones.
In simple terms: Bad laws can be avoided by sacrificing a few good ones.
Key Takeaway
Weigh trade‑offs in legislation.
Themes
law
politics
ethics
pragmatism
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
reflective
When to use this quote
- government
- legal reform
Key Concepts
legislative strategy
public policy
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of pragmatic law‑making?
- How to protect core principles while compromising?
A Different Perspective
Over‑compromise may erode legal integrity.
![“I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better: for good laws may want good men, and be abolished or evaded [invaded in Franklin's print] by ill men; but good men will never want good…” quote by Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/373/patrick-henry-3071_franklin_i-know-some-say-let-us-have-good-laws-an_839553.jpg)
![“[W]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall of choice dismiss the olive branch and unfurl the banners of War.” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bd8/alexander-hamilton-619_banner_w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitutio_33383.jpg)
![“It is one thing to be subordinate to the laws, and another [for the Executive] to be dependent on the legislative body. The first comports with, the last violates, the fundamental principles of good government; and, whatever may be the forms of the Constitution, unites all power in the same hands.” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be4/alexander-hamilton-619_body_it-is-one-thing-to-be-subordinate-to-the_129196.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
