Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton, (1757-1804) American statesman, Secretary of the Treasury

Alexander Hamilton Quote

“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”

Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton
~ Alexander Hamilton

Federalist No. 22, December 14, 1787

Ratings and Comments


J Carlton, Calgary

On the day he said this Hamilton's words were noble. He was however, one of the first to succumb to the temptation of power and greed by aligning himself with foreign bankers against the interests of the American people. (I like to think that is why Aaron Burr shot him) And the practice of being owned by foreign bankers runs rampant in government today. We don't have a government...we have puppets.

Mike, Norwalk

There is no word in the English language that defines a body politic of servants that are formed to represent an individual sovereign's inalienable right(s). The term government refers to an elite group that governs (not serves). Hamilton's here statement is accurate enough in defining amicable totalitarians (as is opposed to representatives). The first part of the quote is inconsistent with the later. The "people" (individually and in concert) do have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to abolish the malignant totalitarianism of the phantasm ‘common good’ and, replace it with (an almost always diametrically opposed – at law) individual right. The subtlety of Hamilton's subterfuge is a primary confusion, ignorance and driving force of what enslaves the once noble free.

jim k, Austin, Tx

Governments are a necessary evil with emphasis on the evil part. The nature of government is to tax, control, and enslave the citizens. And what do the citizens do but reelect the slave masters over and over.

Vera, Monroe

The quotation is short & to the point. This is good.

E Archer, NYC

Time for the States to re-assert their sovereignty and let DC swamp rats eat their own.

Don, Reno
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Don, Reno    8/3/20

Western governments were in fact created by the market to institute and regulate justice. Within the context, liberty exists to feed oneself and others and spread the common good without the need for philanthropy. Lady Justice hold's the market scales representing this very principle that all men are equally dealt with by each other in fair practice to bring about abundance and alleviate suffering. Hamilton represents the very best of western man, refining that which was laid out before him, let all men suffer who have malcontent in his heart for this great statesman. 

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