Top 25 Quotes by James Madison of 548 - Page 13

No power over the freedom of religion [is] delegated to the United States by the Constitution.

No power over the freedom of religion [is] delegated to the United States by the Constitution.

United States, Constitution, Freedom Of Religion

Respect for character is always diminished in proportion to the number among whom the blame or praise is to be divided.

Respect, Character, Numbers

James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

What spectacle can be more edifying or more seasonable, than that of Liberty and Learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual and surest support?

James Madison

Education, Support, Liberty

James Madison (1865). “1816-1828”, p.279

I have no doubt but that the misery of the lower classes will be found to abate wherever the Government assumes a freer aspect,& the laws favor a subdivision of property.

James Madison

Government, Law, Class

"The Writings of James Madison: 1783-1787".

[R]efusing or not refusing to execute a law to stamp it with its final character . . . makes the Judiciary department paramount in fact to the Legislature, which was never intended and can never be proper.

James Madison

Character, Law, Finals

Let the influx of money be ever so great, if there be no confidence, property will sink in value... The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.

James Madison

Circulation, No Confidence, Property

James Madison (1836). “The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution”, p.538

There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises.

James Madison

Mean, Hands, Promise

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.37, University of Virginia Press

Stability in government is essential to national character and to the advantages annexed to it, as well as to that repose and confidence in the minds of the people, which are among the chief blessings of civil society.

James Madison

Character, Patriotic, Blessing

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Quentin P. Taylor, John Jay (1998). “The Essential Federalist: A New Reading of the Federalist Papers”, p.73, Rowman & Littlefield

It will be remembered, that a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is solemnly enjoined by most of the state constitutions, and particularly by our own, as a necessary safeguard against the danger of degeneracy, to which republics are liable, as well as other governments, though in a less degree than others.

James Madison

Education, Government, Principles

James Madison (1836). “The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution”, p.550

[Property] embraces everything to which a man may attach a value and have a right.

James Madison

Men, May, Embrace

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.478

The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the union of the states be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened, and the disguised one as the serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into paradise.

James Madison

Heart, Advice, Enemy

James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

A good government implies two things: first, fidelity to the object of government, which is the happiness of the people; secondly, a knowledge of the means by which that object can be best attained.

James Madison

Mean, Government, Two

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Quentin P. Taylor, John Jay (1998). “The Essential Federalist: A New Reading of the Federalist Papers”, p.66, Rowman & Littlefield

It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country its truest and most durable celebrity.

James Madison

Education, Country, Class

James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

THE Constitution proposed by the convention may be considered under two general points of view. The FIRST relates to the sum or quantity of power which it vests in the government, including the restraints imposed on the States. The SECOND, to the particular structure of the government, and the distribution of this power among its branches.

James Madison

Government, Views, Two

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution”, p.200

The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of Government. But what is Government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?

James Madison

Reflection, Men, Rights

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.239

The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of the nation.

James Madison

Views, Democracy, Citizens

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2004). “The Federalist Papers”, p.680, Simon and Schuster

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.

James Madison

Ambition, Liberty, Made

The Federalist no. 51 (1788)

On the distinctive principles of the Government ... of the U. States, the best guides are to be found in ... The Declaration of Independence, as the fundamental Act of Union of these States.

James Madison

Government, Independence, Unions

James Madison (1910). “The Writings of James Madison: 1819-1836”

It becomes all therefore who are friends of a Government based on free principles to reflect, that by denying the possibility of a system partly federal and partly consolidated, and who would convert ours into one either wholly federal or wholly consolidated, in neither of which forms have individual rights, public order, and external safety, been all duly maintained, they aim a deadly blow at the last hope of true liberty on the face of the Earth.

James Madison

Blow, Order, Rights

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.425

The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.

James Madison

Inspirational, Life, Religious

James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it.

James Madison

Peace, War, Government

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.43, University of Virginia Press

Happily for America, happily, we trust, for the whole human race, they pursued a new and more noble course. They accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society.

James Madison

Freedom, 4th Of July, America

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.64

[A] mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands.

James Madison

Government, Hands, Political

James Madison, John Jay (1847). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.202

I should not regret a fair and full trial of the entire abolition of capital punishment.

James Madison

Regret, Punishment, Trials

James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.342

Government destitute of energy, will ever produce anarchy.

James Madison

Government, Energy, Anarchy

James Madison (1836). “The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution”, p.131

James Madison Quotes - Page 13