--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ah, this is the constitution,\" he said…" description: "\" Ah, this is the constitution,\" he said. \"Now, mark my words. So long as we are a young and virtuous people, this instument will bind us together in mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/alexander-hamilton-619_american-constitutio_ah-this-is-the-constitution-he-said-now_2705775.jpg" --- # Ah, this is the constitution," he said. "Now, mark my… ![“Ah, this is the constitution," he said. "Now, mark my words. So long as we are a young and virtuous people, this instument will bind us together in mutual interests, mutual welfare, and mutual happiness. But when we become old and corrupt, it will bind no longer.” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/alexander-hamilton-619_american-constitutio_ah-this-is-the-constitution-he-said-now_2705775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/alexander-hamilton-619_american-constitutio_ah-this-is-the-constitution-he-said-now_2705775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/alexander-hamilton-619_american-constitutio_ah-this-is-the-constitution-he-said-now_2705775.jpg) > “ Ah, this is the constitution," he said. "Now, mark my words. So long as we are a young and virtuous people, this instument will bind us together in mutual interests, mutual welfare, and mutual happiness. But when we become old and corrupt, it will bind no longer.” [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. Constitution binds society when citizens are virtuous; corruption erodes its power. **In simple terms:** Virtue sustains the constitution. Key Takeaway Promote virtue, protect institutions. Themes civic duty morality government Mood serious thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - education - public service - community leadership Key Concepts constitutional theory social contract ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster lasting virtue? - What safeguards protect constitutional integrity? A Different Perspective Maintaining virtue is challenging in complex societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ah Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ah-constitution-2768324/) [American constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-constitution/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-said-978820/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Mutual interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-interest/) [Mutual Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-welfare-850980/) [Virtuous People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous-people-470190/) [Young Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-virtuous-850981/) ## Related quotes > [Now, mark my words. So long as we are a young and virtuous people, this instument will bind us together in mutual interests, mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/now-mark-my-words-so-long-as-we-are-a-young-and-virtuous-people-this/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“Hamilton then picked up a slim volume on the table and turned it over in his hands. “Ah, this is the constitution,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/hamilton-then-picked-up-a-slim-volume-on-the-table-and-turned-it-over/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Two Soviets . . . were talking to each other. And one of them asked, "What's the difference between the Soviet Constitution and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/two-soviets-were-talking-to-each-other-and-one-of-them-asked-what-s/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The Constitution is said to have beautiful features; but when I come to examine these features, Sir, they appear to me horribly frightful. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/the-constitution-is-said-to-have-beautiful-features-but-when-i-come/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [That was when they suspended the Constitution. They said it would be temporary. There wasn't even any rioting in the streets. People stayed home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/that-was-when-they-suspended-the-constitution-they-said-it-would-be-2/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The last time I checked, the Constitution said, 'of the people, by the people and for the people.' That's what the Declaration of Independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-last-time-i-checked-the-constitution-said-of-the-people-by-the/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The tenth amendment said the federal government is supposed to only have powers that were explicitly given in the Constitution. I think the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-malpass/the-tenth-amendment-said-the-federal-government-is-supposed-to-only/) [David Malpass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-malpass/) > [We're talking about the responsibility, my responsibility according to the Syrian constitution that said we have to defend ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-re-talking-about-the-responsibility-my-responsibility-according-to/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/the-ultimate-touchstone-of-constitutionality-is-the-constitution/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [In our Constitution, it is said that we have freedom of speech and freedom of expression. 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And every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/america-promised-equality-its-constitution-said-so-my-schoolbooks/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations get corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/only-a-virtuous-people-are-capable-of-freedom-as-nations-get-corrupt/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Only free people have an incentive to be virtuous. Only people who bear the consequences of their own acts will care about those consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/only-free-people-have-an-incentive-to-be-virtuous-only-people-who/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## More by Alexander Hamilton > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. 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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. 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