My Favorite Alexander Hamilton Quotes

The wit and wisdom of America's most influential founder

Author

Ben Wilson
June 26, 2024

Happy Takeover Tuesday (oops). The Alexander Hamilton series is done, and I am knee-deep in reading about Benjamin Franklin.

In case you missed any of the Hamilton episodes, you can find Spotify links here:

Now onto the good stuff. Here are some of my favorite quotes from Alexander Hamilton.

To confess my weakness, Ned, my ambition is so prevalent that I contempt the groveling and conditions of a clerk or the like to which my fortune etc condemns me and would willingly risk my life, though not my character, to exalt my station. We have seen such schemes successful when the projector is constant. I shall conclude by saying I wish there was a war.

Alexander Hamilton in a letter to Edward Stevens

I love this quote from a teenage Hamilton, straining to be able to prove himself beyond his current station. So much of his character is captured in so few words.

Your people, sir, - your people is a great beast!"

Alexander Hamilton (Attributed)

Hamilton was never a fan of democracy. Perhaps it was a shortcoming of his. But I think that the dangers he saw in the mob were real enough, and one of his great accomplishments was checking some of the more intemperate impulses of the early American republic.

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.

Alexander Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted

But in demonstrating his anti-democratic tendencies, let’s not get carried away. Hamilton could also wax rhapsodic when discussing human rights and republican government.

Every day proves to me more and more that this American world was not made for me.

Alexander Hamilton

The Hamilton story is so inspiring. It shows just how much can be accomplished by one man of genius. And yet it is ultimately a tragedy. Not only because Hamilton’s life was cut short, but because his impact was as well. As great as Hamilton was, I think he might have been greater under different circumstances.

I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

Alexander Hamilton in a letter to Robert Morris

This is one of the keys to understanding Hamilton and his worldview. Where other American founders preferred to see the best in others, Hamilton preferred to see things without rose-colored glasses. I often try to recenter on this idea. I find that I feel happier and less stressed when I focus less on convincing others and the way things ought to be and focus more on simply observing things as they are.

If they break this Union, they will break my heart.

Alexander Hamilton’s last words

I think this is ultimately Hamilton’s greatest accomplishment. As treasury secretary, he carried out a program that tied the states together and made them difficult to separate. The odds-on bet would have perhaps been on eventual dissolution in some form or another if it had not been for the work of Alexander Hamilton.

I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I did! Franklin coming soon!

Thanks for tuning in!

Best,

Ben