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What does this quote mean to you?

Today's quote comes from Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) -- founding father, first treasury secretary of the United States, and the subject of the hit Broadway musical that has taken the country by storm. Not only did he coauthor The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays promoting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, but he founded the Federalist Party and was the mastermind behind the establishment of the first national bank.

Like his arch-nemesis Thomas Jefferson, who everyone knows wrote the Declaration of Independence, Hamilton was a prodigious writer in his lifetime, penning scores of letters, reports, and even George Washington's Farewell Address. Sadly, he died at age 47 after being shot in a duel with Aaron Burr.

Because of their sheer brilliance and masterful pen, I consider Jefferson and Hamilton the two most fascinating figures in American History.

Hamilton once said, "Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."

If there's one thing I admire about this guy, it's that he didn't take bullshit from anyone. He stood firm and never compromised his beliefs or values amid intense criticism from Jefferson's Democratic Republican party. It made him some enemies, sure, but he put love of country above acceptance from everyone.

In other words, Hamilton preferred being hated for who he was than loved for who he wasn't.

I think we should all try to live by this very motto. If there's something that perturbs me to no end, it's when people do things they don't want to do just to fit in. They conform to societal expectations just so they'll be liked and accepted.

Don't compromise your principles just for the sake of following the herd. Be your own person. Let your unique attributes shine through. Why let other people dictate what you should and should not do in your own life? You -- not them -- are the master of your own destiny. You are solely in charge of your own happiness.

If there's something you believe in wholeheartedly, don't be afraid to stand behind it -- even in the face of bitter opposition. If you let others dictate what you do, say, and value, you're just relinquishing all your power to them.

You're better than that. Your beliefs, your principles, your values -- they all count for something too. Stand up for yourself so that people know you're not to be trifled with. I guarantee you they'll respect you once they see you stand your ground.
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