Constitutions should consist only of general provisions the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.

Hamilton’s point is that a constitution, unlike ordinary legislation, is meant to endure across generations. Because future circumstances cannot be fully anticipated, constitutional text should state broad principles and allocate powers rather than attempt to regulate detailed policy. Specific rules are better left to statutes and administrative practice, which can be revised as conditions change. The remark reflects a core Federalist-era concern: designing a durable framework for republican government that is stable enough to command respect yet flexible enough to accommodate social, economic, and geopolitical change without constant constitutional rewriting.