Hamilton, the hit Broadway musical, has earned rave reviews from fans and critics alike. There is a case to be made about the conversations it has opened up. There are discussions and criticisms going around as well. But as a work of art, Hamilton has succeeded in adapting a story, filling it with dance and music, and engaging audiences with the amazing performances of their ensemble cast.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical tells the story of the American Revolution from a different perspective. There are many outstanding moments in the show and these are some of the most memorable quotes from Hamilton.
"He Looked At Me Like I Was Stupid, I'm Not Stupid."
Alexander Hamilton is "young, scrappy and hungry" and knows what he wants to achieve. He is unwilling to be told to shut up and sit down. So when he gets called stupid for going to Princeton college and asking for an accelerated course of study, he is angry at being called stupid. He is angry at being dismissed like that. This line is quite memorable because of the fact that it is telling of the things to come. Of how Alexander's makes it impossible for anyone to dismiss him that easily.
"Why Should A Tiny Island Across The Sea Regulate The Price Of Tea?"
In this one short and crisp line, Alexander Hamilton summarizes very succinctly what the issue is. It may be slightly reductionist, but it is a catchy line that comes right before King George III takes the stage. The line is simple and memorable and easily explains why it made no sense for America to continue to be ruled by the British. This line is also memorable because Alexander has no qualms in being frank when compared to the more "diplomatic" Aaron Burr who is unhappy with the way in which Alexander expresses his dissent.
"Immigrants: We Get The Job Done."
A line that garners applause and cheers, this is yet another way in which Hamilton shows how relevant history is to the present still. Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton are two characters who are technically immigrants who became extremely valuable to the American revolution.
This pointed remark about how America is a land of immigrants is as relevant today. The cheeky manner in which Lin Manuel Miranda and Daveed Diggs delivers this line makes it all the more memorable.
"Yeah, Keep Ranting/ We Know Who's Really Doing The Planting."
In "Cabinet Battle #1," Thomas Jefferson ardently argues against Alexander Hamilton's financial plans. But his arguments revolve a lot around the fact that the South actually does work, they plant and create, and shouldn't be paying for the North. Alexander Hamilton completely dismisses this claim by pointing out why the reason they make money is because they are slavers who don't pay for labor. This is a very pointed and loaded remark that Alexander Hamilton makes calling out Thomas Jefferson's claims.
"I Guess I'm Gonna Finally Have To Listen To You/Really?/ 'Talk Less. Smile More.'"
The first advice Aaron Burr ever gives to Alexander Hamilton is to quiet down a little. Alexander Hamilton wears his heart on his sleeve. He is loud-mouthed and opinionated and not worried about pleasing anyone. Aaron Burr is the exact opposite. Alexander doesn't take his advice seriously until this point in the musical. And even in this line, he is sort of mocking Aaron Burr's advice. It's a spectacularly funny moment, but also a memorable one where Alexander finally understands the value of Burr's style of doing things.
"Oh, You Get Love For It. You Get Hate For It. You Get Nothing If You/ Wait For It, Wait For It, Wait!"
This is yet another instance where Alexander Hamilton mocks Aaron Burr's advice and way of doing things. Calling back to the time Aaron Burr decided to "wait for it" and not write essays along with Alexander in support of the constitution, Alexander shows how it is only possible to get things done his way. And Alexander's way is drastically different from Burr's.
He had skin in the game, he was willing to play the game, unlike Burr whose only plan was to wait till everything settled down.
"I Wrote My Way Out Of Hell/ I Wrote My Way To Revolution."
The song "Hurricane" comes in the second half of the musical. Alexander Hamilton finds himself in a moral dilemma that has no easy solutions. This track is quite powerful and this line is especially memorable because this is what Alexander Hamilton does best. His "skill with the quill is undeniable." He wrote his way out of where he was living, wrote his way into the American Revolution, wrote financial systems into existence. At this juncture, he thinks he can write his way out of the mess he has made.
"It's Eighteen Hundred, Ladies, Tell Your Husbands, Vote For Burr!"
This is quite a cheeky line from the song "The Election of 1800." It pokes fun at the fact that even at the beginning of this new century, the most that women could do to participate in the electoral process was by influencing their husbands. Aaron Burr charms the ladies and he's quite popular with them as already mentioned in "A Winter's Ball." He's openly campaigning against Jefferson as well and this is quite a pivotal moment in the play.
"Well, He's Never Gon' Be President Now."
Jefferson is shocked by what Alexander Hamilton has done. Alexander published his affair for the world to see. And he did it himself. This guaranteed that America wouldn't see his candidacy. And this was something Jefferson has always wanted.
Watching Daveed Diggs jump around on stage, excitedly throwing the notes into the air while singing this above line is fun, but it also puts into perspective an important moment from the life of Alexander Hamilton.
"Legacy. What Is A Legacy?/ It's Planting Seeds In A Garden You Never Get To See."
The music fades, there is "no beat, no melody" as Alexander Hamilton says these lines. It's a very poignant moment when he actually thinks about what legacy even means. He has been chasing after this for so long, so invested in creating something that will outlive him, wanting to make a name for himself. But when the end is so close, he finally realizes that legacy is not everything. It is something far away that you don't actually get to reap the benefits of.