Hamilton on the Balance Between Liberty and Security

John Singleton Copley, The Death of Major Pierson (1781)

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war, the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free.

–Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 8 (Nov. 20, 1787) in The Writings of Alexander Hamilton, p. 191 (Library of America ed. 2001).