“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.”
Alexander Hamilton, Speech to Congress, June 21, 1788
“Great confusion about the words democracy, aristocracy, monarchy…Democracy in my sense, where the whole power of the government in the people, whether exercised by themselves or by representatives, chosen by them either mediately or immediately and legally accountable to them…Consequence, the proposed government a representative democracy…Constitution revocable and alterable by the people. This representative democracy as far as is consistent with its genius has all the features of good government.”
Alexander Hamilton, on the Constitution, 1788
“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.”
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Hunter, 1790
“A government of laws, and not of men.”
John Adams, Novanglus Papers, 1774
Source: https://ammo.com/articles/founding-fathers-quotes-democracy-government-power-in-people
