Meaning of the quote

If you don't believe in anything, you'll end up believing in everything. When you don't have strong principles or values to guide you, you become easily influenced by other people's ideas, even if they're not good for you. Having a clear sense of what you stand for can help you stay true to yourself and not be easily swayed by others.

About Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of the United States, served as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and played a crucial role in shaping the young nation’s government and financial systems. Despite his humble beginnings, Hamilton’s brilliance and ambition led him to become a highly influential figure, though his political rivalries ultimately resulted in his untimely demise in a duel.

More about the author

More quotes from Alexander Hamilton

It is the advertiser who provides the paper for the subscriber. It is not to be disputed, that the publisher of a newspaper in this country, without a very exhaustive advertising support, would receive less reward for his labor than the humblest mechanic.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Learn to think continentally.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

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

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

In the main it will be found that a power over a man’s support (salary) is a power over his will.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

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.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Power over a man’s subsistence is power over his will.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Real firmness is good for anything; strut is good for nothing.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Man is a reasoning rather than a reasonable animal.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

In the usual progress of things, the necessities of a nation in every stage of its existence will be found at least equal to its resources.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

A promise must never be broken.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

In the general course of human nature, A power over a man’s subsistence amounts to a power over his will.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

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

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

I think the first duty of society is justice.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)

Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government.

Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757-1804)