As riches increase and accumulate in few hands, as luxury prevails in society, virtue will be in a greater degree considered as only a graceful appendage of wealth, and the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican standard. This is the real disposition of human nature; it is what neither the honorable member nor myself can correct. It is a common misfortunate that awaits our State constitution, as well as all others.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on how the concentration of wealth leads to the erosion of virtuous values in society and the principles of republicanism.
In this quote, Alexander Hamilton discusses the consequences of rising wealth inequality in society. He suggests that as riches become concentrated in the hands of a few, and as luxury becomes more prevalent, societal values may shift to view virtue as secondary to wealth. This shift indicates a departure from the ideals of republicanism, which emphasize equality and civic virtue, revealing a pessimistic view of human nature that he believes is beyond correction.
In practice
This quote could be used in a lecture on economics to illustrate the social consequences of wealth inequality.
When men, engaged in unjustifiable pursuits, are aware that obstructions may come from a quarter which bare apprehension of opposition from doing what they would with eagerness rush into if no such external impediments were to be feared.
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It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.
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The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.
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I say, let us think. Let each one express his thought. Let us become investigators, not followers, not cringers and crawlers. If there is in Heaven an infinite being, he never will be satisfied with the worship of cowards and hypocrites.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
I hope to see the two great religions, Islam and Christianity, hand-in-hand, embracing each other. Then the Torah and the Bible and the Qur’an will become books supporting one another being read everywhere, and respected by every nation … [I am] looking forward to seeing Muslims read the Torah and the Bible.
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Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.
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