Skip to content

The creation of crimes after the commission of the fact, or, in other words, the subjecting of men to punishment for things which, when they were done, were breaches of no law, and the practice of arbitrary imprisonments, have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.

— Alexander Hamilton The Federalist Papers (1787)

Another quote →

More quotes by Alexander Hamilton

As long as offices are open to all men and no constitutional rank is established, it is pure republicanism.

Debates of the Federal Convention (1787)

Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.

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

When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.

The Federalist Papers (1787)

The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.

All Alexander Hamilton quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Alexander Hamilton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.