Our countrymen have all the folly of the ass and all the passiveness of the sheep.
Interpretation
This quote critiques the behavior of people who blindly follow others without critical thinking.
In this quote, Alexander Hamilton expresses his discontent with the tendency of the populace to lack discernment and active engagement in societal issues. He compares them to 'asses' and 'sheep,' suggesting that they exhibit foolishness and a passive acceptance of the status quo, thereby highlighting the importance of individual thought and action in a democratic society.
In practice
During a town hall meeting to inspire civic engagement among citizens.
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.
The tendency of a national bank is to increase public and private credit. The former gives power to the state, for the protection of its rights and interests: and the latter facilitates and extends the operations of commerce among individuals. Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufacturers flourish: and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state.
It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.
The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master.
The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.
The true principle of a republic is that the people should choose whom they please to govern them. Representation is imperfect, in proportion as the current of popular favor is checked. The great source of free government, popular election, should be perfectly pure, and the most unbounded liberty allowed.
Every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character.
My dreams, my dreams! What has become of their sweetness? What indeed has become of my youth?
Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.
We frequently look into the future of mankind and see dangers. We see if we carry on doing what we are doing in 20 years' time there will be no rainforests left, just to use one example. Looking into the future may be one of the reasons that brains evolved in the first place.
As long as quick numerical growth remains the primary indicator of church health, the truth will be compromised. Instead, churches must once again begin measuring success not in terms of numbers but in terms of fidelity to the Scriptures.
In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who we are' operate on precisely the same principles that we do.
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