--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Responsibility, in order to be…" description: "\"Responsibility, in order to be reasonable, must be limited to objects within the power of the responsible party, and in order to be effectual, must rel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg" --- # Responsibility, in order to be reasonable, must be limited… ![“Responsibility, in order to be reasonable, must be limited to objects within the power of the responsible party, and in order to be effectual, must relate to operations of that power, of which a ready and proper judgment can be formed by the constituents.” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg) > “Responsibility, in order to be reasonable, must be limited to objects within the power of the responsible party, and in order to be effectual, must relate to operations of that power, of which a ready and proper judgment can be formed by the constituents.” [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. Responsibility must be limited to what one can control and be effective within that scope, requiring sound judgment. **In simple terms:** Only be what you can control and act wisely. Key Takeaway Focus on controllable duties with clear judgment. Themes responsibility authority effectiveness Mood analytical pragmatic Type philosophical instructional When to use this quote - leadership - policy making - personal accountability Key Concepts political philosophy ethics decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your sphere of influence? - What judgments guide your responsibilities? A Different Perspective Real‑world power is often diffuse, limiting clear responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [But we must create in each person a sense of responsibility in order that each one of us can have the right to enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federica-montseny/but-we-must-create-in-each-person-a-sense-of-responsibility-in-order/) [Federica Montseny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federica-montseny/) > [Responsibility is something higher than my family, my country, my firm, my success. 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I was just making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kirsten-maravel/to-be-fair-you-can-tell-me-what-you-think-of-me-max-offered-i-didn-t/) [Shawn Kirsten Maravel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kirsten-maravel/) > [When I did big things, some large corporations like the Pennsylvania Railroad Company were behind me and responsible party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/when-i-did-big-things-some-large-corporations-like-the-pennsylvania/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [If there is to be responsible party government, the party label must be something more than a mere device for securing office. 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This is a truth well understood by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/men-are-rather-reasoning-than-reasonable-animals-for-the-most-part/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger ## 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. 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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 Constituents quotes > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [ So \[Republicans\] packed all the Democrats into districts, very Democratic districts. What that's done is made our party urban, more liberal, and so those… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/so-republicans-packed-all-the-democrats-into-districts-very/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [Every man must form himself as a particular being, seeking, however, to attain that general idea of which all mankind are constituents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/every-man-must-form-himself-as-a-particular-being-seeking-however-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The best leaders are those who break that mission down into the organization's constituent parts, so that everybody understands their role and how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-best-leaders-are-those-who-break-that-mission-down-into-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of my goals here in Congress, being the youngest member of the California delegation, is to really try and get the institution to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/one-of-my-goals-here-in-congress-being-the-youngest-member-of-the/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/and-if-i-should-later-be-attacked-for-neglecting-my-constituents/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I regularly see constituents, speak to people who feel let down by the justice system quite fundamentally, and these are people who don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-xenophon/i-regularly-see-constituents-speak-to-people-who-feel-let-down-by-the/) [Nick Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-xenophon/) > [Neither these statesmen nor their constituents sought in any way to use the Government for the interest of themselves or their section, or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/neither-these-statesmen-nor-their-constituents-sought-in-any-way-to/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Of course things get stagnant; people get too used to their environment, but that's why I'm in my district every week, at meetings with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-course-things-get-stagnant-people-get-too-used-to-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I went to Ferguson and walked with the demonstrators and saw this heavily armed police force, tactical units pointing sniper rifles at my constituents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lacy-clay-jr/i-went-to-ferguson-and-walked-with-the-demonstrators-and-saw-this/) [William Lacy Clay, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lacy-clay-jr/) > [My focus is on my constituents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-hultgren/my-focus-is-on-my-constituents/) [Randy Hultgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-hultgren/) > [If we can't have the courage to tell our constituents, hey, we've got to cut back, then if we can point to something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/if-we-can-t-have-the-courage-to-tell-our-constituents-hey-we-ve-got/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [By the deficiency or absence of one necessary constituent, all the others being present, the soil is rendered barren for all those crops to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-von-liebig/by-the-deficiency-or-absence-of-one-necessary-constituent-all-the/) [Justus von Liebig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justus-von-liebig/) > [I think a lot of people feel that they are just not listened to, and that the politicians in Washington are just playing games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/i-think-a-lot-of-people-feel-that-they-are-just-not-listened-to-and/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [My constituents are my employers - if I let them down I should be accountable to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/my-constituents-are-my-employers-if-i-let-them-down-i-should-be/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) Browse all 259 Constituents quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Responsibility, in order to be reasonable, must be limited to objects within the power of the responsible party, and in order to be effectual, must relate to operations of that power, of which a ready and proper judgment can be formed by the constituents.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Hamilton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable-must-be-limited-to-objects/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constituents" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable-must-be-limited-to-objects/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/alexander-hamilton-619_constituents_responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable_1628266.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Responsibility, in order to be reasonable, must be limited to objects within the power of the responsible…” — 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": "Responsibility, in order to be reasonable,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable-must-be-limited-to-objects/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/responsibility-in-order-to-be-reasonable-must-be-limited-to-objects/#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 } } ] } ```