---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A government ought to contain in itself…"
description: "\"A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to the full accomplishment of the objects committed to its care, and to the complete exec..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg"
---

#  A government ought to contain in itself every power…

![“A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to the full accomplishment of the objects committed to its care, and to the complete execution of the trusts for which it is responsible, free from every other control but a regard to the public good and to the sense of the people.” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg)

> “A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to the full accomplishment of the objects committed to its care, and to the complete execution of the trusts for which it is responsible, free from every other control but a regard to the public good and to the sense of the people.”

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Government should hold all necessary powers to fulfill its duties, guided solely by public good and popular will.

**In simple terms:** Government must have full authority to serve the public good.

Key Takeaway

Ensure government actions align with public interest.

Themes

government power public good democracy

Mood

serious thoughtful

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- public administration
- civic engagement
- legislative drafting

Key Concepts

constitutional law political theory checks and balances

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards protect against abuse of power?
- How can citizens influence government decisions?

A Different Perspective

Concentration of power can threaten individual freedoms.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Complete Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complete-execution-483782/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-ought/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Contain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-contain-483781/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-good/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Trusts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trusts/) [Trusts Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trusts-responsible-483780/)

## Related quotes

> [It will follow that that government ought to be clothed with all powers requisite to complete execution of its trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-follow-that-that-government-ought-to-be-clothed-with-all/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [“Every life ought to contain both a turn and a return.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/every-life-ought-to-contain-both-a-turn-and-a-return/)

[E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/)

> [The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/the-very-essence-of-a-free-government-consists-in-considering-offices/)

[John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/)

> [It is just observation that the people commonly intend the Public Good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-just-observation-that-the-people-commonly-intend-the-public-good/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It is a just observation that the people commonly intend the Public Good. This often applies to their very errors. But their good sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-just-observation-that-the-people-commonly-intend-the-public/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [The powers contained in a constitution...ought to be construed liberally in advancement of the public good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-powers-contained-in-a-constitution-ought-to-be-construed/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [An over-scrupulous jealousy of danger to the rights of the people, which is more commonly the fault of the head than of the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/an-over-scrupulous-jealousy-of-danger-to-the-rights-of-the-people/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct permanent share in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-they-seldom-judge-or-determine/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It appears to general observation, that revolutions create genius and talents; but those events do no more than bring them forward. There is existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-appears-to-general-observation-that-revolutions-create-genius-and/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [When the good lord calls you home, the government ought not come get your home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/when-the-good-lord-calls-you-home-the-government-ought-not-come-get/)

[Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/)

> [I think the government ought to stay out of the religious business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-the-government-ought-to-stay-out-of-the-religious-business/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [In the first place, the government ought not to be invested with power to control the affections, any more than the consciences of citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/in-the-first-place-the-government-ought-not-to-be-invested-with-power/)

[Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/)

> [“Government is nothing more than the combined force of society or the united power of the multitude for the peace, order, safety, good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/government-is-nothing-more-than-the-combined-force-of-society-or-the/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [Government cannot do everything, so we need to first decide what government ought to be doing, then figure out what it's capable of doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-fletcher/government-cannot-do-everything-so-we-need-to-first-decide-what/)

[Ernie Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-fletcher/)

> [I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-can-find-no-warrant-for-such-an-appropriation-in-the-constitution/)

[Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/)

## More by Alexander Hamilton

> [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [“The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-truth-unquestionably-is-that-the-only-path-to-a-subversion-of-the/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitution-not-of-executive-but-of/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Though a wide ocean separates the United States from Europe, yet there are various considerations that warn us against an excess of confidence or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/though-a-wide-ocean-separates-the-united-states-from-europe-yet-there/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It is an unquestionable truth, that the body of the people in every country desire sincerely its prosperity. But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [There are still to be found visionary or designing men, who stand ready to advocate the paradox of perpetual peace between the states, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/there-are-still-to-be-found-visionary-or-designing-men-who-stand/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [ It is one thing to be subordinate to the laws, and another \[for the Executive\] to be dependent on the legislative body. The first… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-one-thing-to-be-subordinate-to-the-laws-and-another-for-the/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Man is very much a creature of habit. A thing that rarely strikes his senses will generally have but little influence upon his mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/man-is-very-much-a-creature-of-habit-a-thing-that-rarely-strikes-his/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Money is, with propriety, considered as the vital principle of the body politic; as that which sustains its life and motion, and enables it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/money-is-with-propriety-considered-as-the-vital-principle-of-the-body/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [The nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-nation-which-can-prefer-disgrace-to-danger-is-prepared-for-a/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It is a well-known fact that in countries in which the national debt is properly funded, and an object of established confidence, it answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-in-countries-in-which-the-national-debt/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [A government, the constitution of which renders it unfit to be trusted with all the powers which a free people ought to delegate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-the-constitution-of-which-renders-it-unfit-to-be-trusted/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [The Liberty of the press consists in the right to publish with impunity truth with good motives for justifiable ends, though reflecting on government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-liberty-of-the-press-consists-in-the-right-to-publish-with/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/you-should-not-have-taken-advantage-of-my-sensibility-to-steal-into/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

[Explore all 443 Alexander Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

## More Accomplishment quotes

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/)

[Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/)

> [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/)

[Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/)

> [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/)

[Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/)

> [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/)

[Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/)

> [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/)

[Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/)

> [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/)

[Anthony Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sargent/)

> [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/)

[Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/)

> [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/)

[Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/)

> [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

[Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to the full accomplishment of the objects committed to its care, and to the complete execution of the trusts for which it is responsible, free from every other control but a regard to the public good and to the sense of the people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexander Hamilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself-every-power-requisite-to-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accomplishment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself-every-power-requisite-to-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90b/alexander-hamilton-619_accomplishment_a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself_822308.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to the full accomplishment of the objects…” — Alexander Hamilton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alexander Hamilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A government ought to contain in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself-every-power-requisite-to-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-ought-to-contain-in-itself-every-power-requisite-to-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
