Alexander Hamilton Quotes About Duty

We have collected for you the TOP of Alexander Hamilton's best quotes about Duty! Here are collected all the quotes about Duty starting from the birthday of the Founding Father of the United States – January 11, 1757! We hope you will be inspired to new achievements with our constantly updated collection of quotes. At the moment, this page contains 13 sayings of Alexander Hamilton about Duty. We will be happy if you share our collection of quotes with your friends on social networks!
  • When occasions present themselves, in which the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons whom they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests, to withstand the temporary delusion, in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.349, Cambridge University Press
  • Upon this law, depend the natural rights of mankind, the supreme being gave existence to man, together with the means of preserving and beatifying that existence. He endowed him with rational faculties, by the help of which, to discern and pursue such things, as were consistent with his duty and interest, and invested him with an inviolable right to personal liberty, and personal safety.

    Alexander Hamilton (1842). “The Official and Other Papers of the Late Major-General Alexander Hamilton: Comp. Chiefly from the Originals in the Possession of Mrs. Hamilton ...”, p.76
  • The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing.

    The Federalist Papers, No. 78 ("The Judiciary Department"), www.congress.gov. May 28, 1788.
  • I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

    Alexander Hamilton (1850). “Correspondence. 1769-1789”, p.294
  • This position will not be disputed so long as it is admitted that the desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of human conduct, or that the best security for the fidelity of mankind is to make their interest coincide with their duty. Even the love of fame, the ruling passion of the noblest minds... would on the contrary deter him from the undertaking, when he foresaw that he must quit the scene before he could accomplish the work.

    "The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States".
  • What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws.

    American Daily Advertiser, August 28, 1794.
  • There are men who could neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of their duty; but this stern virtue is the growth of few soils: And in the main it will be found, that a power over a man's support is a power over his will.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution”, p.364
  • If, then, the courts of justice are to be considered as the bulwarks of a limited Constitution against legislative encroachments, this consideration will afford a strong argument for the permanent tenure of judicial offices, since nothing will contribute so much as this to that independent spirit in the judges which must be essential to the faithful performance of so arduous a duty.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Henry Barton Dawson (1864). “The Fœderalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favor of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Fœderal Convention, September 17, 1787. Reprinted from the Original Text. With an Historical Introduction and Notes”, p.544, New York : C. Scribner ; London : Sampson Low
  • In this distribution of powers the wisdom of our constitution is manifested. It is the province and duty of the Executive to preserve to the Nation the blessings of peace. The Legislature alone can interrupt those blessings, by placing the Nation in a state of War.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.410
  • If it were to be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws - the first growing out of the last . . . . A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

    Alexander Hamilton, Morton J. Frisch (1985). “Selected writings and speeches of Alexander Hamilton”, Aei Pr
  • If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds. This forms a complete barrier against any material oppression of the citizens by taxes of this class, and is itself a natural limitation of the power of imposing them.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2009). “The Federalist”, p.130, Harvard University Press
  • As the duties of superintending the national defense and of securing the public peace against foreign or domestic violence involve a provision for casualties and dangers to which no possible limits can be assigned, the power of making that provision ought to know no other bounds than the exigencies of the nation and the resources of the community.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2007). “The Federalist Papers”, p.231, Filiquarian Publishing, LLC.
  • The desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of human conduct; ... the best security for the fidelity of mankind is to make their interest coincide with their duty.

    Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.355, Coventry House Publishing
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Alexander Hamilton

  • Born: January 11, 1757
  • Died: July 12, 1804
  • Occupation: Founding Father of the United States