---
title: "In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men t… — Alexander Hamilton Quote #48 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "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 contro… — a quote by Alexander Hamilton."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # 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.

[Alexander Hamilton](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton)\#48

[Politics](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/politics/)[Freedom](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/freedom/)[Power](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/power/)[Constitution](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/constitution/)[Governance](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/governance/)[Constraint](https://quotesby.net/topics/constraint/)[Control](https://quotesby.net/topics/control/)[Restraint](https://quotesby.net/topics/restraint/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Creating a government requires balancing power: it must be strong enough to control citizens, yet constrained enough to control itself.In plain termsGovernment needs power over people but also limits on its own power.What can you take from it?Design systems with checks and balances to prevent tyranny.

### Where it applies

- constitution drafting
- policy making
- leadership training

### Putting it to work

- establish independent judiciary
- create legislative oversight
- limit executive terms

### Questions to consider

- How do you balance security and freedom?
- What checks exist in your organization?

### Another view

Even well-designed systems can fail if citizens lack vigilance.

## More from Alexander Hamilton

1. > I think the first duty of society is justice.

[Permalink to quote \#47](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/47/ "Permalink to quote 47")
2. > It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoher…

[Permalink to quote \#49](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/49/ "Permalink to quote 49")
3. > I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value.

[Permalink to quote \#46](https://quotesby.net/Alexander-Hamilton/46/ "Permalink to quote 46")

## Related quotes

1. > To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied on, directed, legislated at, regulated, docketed, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, weig…

[P. J. Proudhon](https://quotesby.net/P.-J.-Proudhon)[P. J. Proudhon quote \#2](https://quotesby.net/P.-J.-Proudhon/2/ "Permalink to quote 2")
2. > Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

[George Washington](https://quotesby.net/George-Washington)[George Washington quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/George-Washington/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > During the last 100 years, the House of Lords has never contributed one iota to popular liberties or popular freedom, or done anything to advance the common we…

[Joseph Chamberlain](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Chamberlain)[Joseph Chamberlain quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Chamberlain/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

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