Alexander Hamilton Bust: 10 Authentic Quotes from the Founding Father

A classic **Alexander Hamilton bust**, such as the famous marble by Giuseppe Ceracchi displayed in museums like Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Monticello, symbolizes the intellect and vision of America's first Treasury Secretary. These sculptures, often in government and museum collections, remind us of Hamilton's foundational role in the nation's economy and government. Below are 10 verified quotes sourced from official U.S. government sites, including the National Archives and Library of Congress.

1. "A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing." — U.S. National Archives (Letter to Robert Morris, 30 April 1781)
2. "Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government." — U.S. National Archives (The Federalist No. 70, 18 March 1788)
3. "Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint." — U.S. National Archives (The Federalist No. 15, 1 December 1787)
4. "The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE." — U.S. National Archives (The Federalist No. 22, 14 December 1787)
5. "After an unequivocal experience of the inefficiency of the subsisting federal government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America." — U.S. National Archives (The Federalist No. 1, 27 October 1787)
6. "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." — Library of Congress (The Federalist No. 51)
7. "I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man." — U.S. National Archives (The Federalist No. 85, 28 May 1788)
8. "The cultivation of the earth... has intrinsically a strong claim to pre-eminence over every other kind of industry." — U.S. National Archives (Report on Manufactures, 5 December 1791)
9. "Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing." — U.S. National Archives (Letter to James A. Bayard, August 1800)
10. "Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true Liberty." — U.S. National Archives (Draft of Washington's Farewell Address, 1796)

These quotes from official government archives highlight Hamilton's enduring influence—complementing the iconic **Alexander Hamilton bust** sculptures preserved in national collections.

For primary documents, visit Founders Online (U.S. National Archives) or the Library of Congress Federalist Papers collection.