In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason. … Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.
– Alexander Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 55, February 15, 1788
If all the delegates named for this Convention at Philadelphia are present, we will ever have seen, even in Europe, an assembly more respectable for the talents, knowledge, disinterestedness, and patriotism of those who compose it.
– Otto (French charge d’affaires), letter to the Comite de Montmorin, April 10, 1787
Leave a Reply