The ancient democracies, in which the people themselves deliberated, never possessed one feature of good government - Alexander Hamilton

Hello, I am Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

I once said:

“It has been observed by an honorable gentleman, that a pure democracy, if it were practicable, would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved, that no position in politics is more false than this. The ancient democracies, in which the people themselves deliberated, never possessed one feature of good government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity.”

When I made this statement, it was rooted in my deep understanding of history and the practical challenges of governance. Ancient democracies, like those of Athens, often devolved into chaos and mob rule. Without the structure to mediate competing interests, the loudest voices could drown out reason and justice, leading to tyranny by the majority. This is why, as the framers of the U.S. Constitution, we sought to establish a republic—a system where representatives deliberate on behalf of the people, guided by law and principle, rather than fleeting passions.