“All communities divide themselves into the few
and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of
the people…
"The people are turbulent and changing; they
seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a
distinct, permanent share in the government.
They will check the unsteadiness of the second,
and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will
ever maintain good government.”
Alexander Hamilton, Constitutional Convention debate, June 18, 1787
Source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, ed. Harold Syrett, et al. (New
York and London: Columbia
Univeristy Press, 1961–1987), 4:200.