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James Madison Quotes - Page 16

All Quotes Abuse Age Ambition Army Art Atheism Atheist Authority Character Charity Choices Church Communication Community Conscience Constitution Corruption Country Democracy Devotion Diversity Doubt Duty Economy Education Energy Evil Exercise Failing Freedom Freedom Of Religion Freedom Of Speech Giving God Heart Home Honor House Human Nature Humanity Ignorance Independence Injustice Inspirational Judging Justice Liberty Loss Lying Military Office Opportunity Oppression Passion Past Patriotism Peace Politics Power Preparation Pride Progress Property Purpose Reflection Regret Religion Sacrifice Safety Second Amendment Separation Slavery Socialism Temptation Tyranny Violence Voting War Welfare Wisdom

The Federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular, to the state legislatures.

The Federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular, to the state legislatures.

Constitution, Combination, Legislature

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.47

The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion.

Names, Would Be, Topics

Measures should be enacted which, without violating the rights of property, would reduce extreme wealth towards a state of mediocrity, and raise extreme indigence towards a state of comfort.

Rights, Law, Comfort

Every nation whose affairs betray a want of wisdom and stability may calculate on every loss which can be sustained from the more systematic policy of its wiser neighbors.

Loss, Liberty, May

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788”, p.287

Because the bill vests in the said incorporated church an authority to provide for the support of the poor and the education of poor children of the same, an authority which, being altogether superfluous if the provision is to be the result of pious charity, would be a precedent for giving to religious societies as such a legal agency in carrying into effect a public and civil duty.

Religious, Children, Agency

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

As the war was just in its origin and necessary and noble in its objects, we can reflect with a proud satisfaction that in carrying it on no principle of justice or honor, no usage of civilized nations, no precept of courtesy or humanity, have been infringed.

War, Justice, Humanity

James Madison, Robert Allen Rutland (2008). “The Papers of James Madison: 8 February-24 October 1813”

That diabolical Hell conceived principle of persecution rages amoung some and to their eternal Infamy the Clergy can furnish their Quota of Imps for such business.

Religious, Religion, Liberty

James Madison (1867). “1769-1793. v.2. 1794-1815. v.3. 1816-1828. v.4. 1829-1836”, p.12

No distinction seems to be more obvious than that between spiritual and temporal matters. Yet whenever they have been made objects of Legislation, they have clashed and contended with each other, till one or the other has gained the supremacy.

Spiritual, Religion, Matter

Because we hold it for 'a fundamental and undeniable truth', that religion or 'the duty which we owe to our Creator' and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.

Religion, Religious Truth, Fundamentals

James Madison (1787). “The Writings of James Madison: 1783-1787”, p.184

These considerations and many others that might be mentioned prove, and experience confirms it, that artisans and manufacturers will commonly be disposed to bestow their votes on merchants.

People, Might, Vote

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788”, p.153

The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of government.

Party, Government, Regulation

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.49, Coventry House Publishing

A zeal for different opinions concerning religion...[has] divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good.

Party, Religion, Atheism

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1864). “The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States”, p.106

The infant periods of most nations are buried in silence or veiled in fable; and the world perhaps has lost but little which it needs regret. The origin and outset of the American Republic contain lessons of which posterity ought not to be deprived: and happily there never was a case in which every interesting incident could be so accurately preserved.

Education, Regret, Interesting

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.15, University of Virginia Press

In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the Executive Magistrate. Constant apprehension of War, has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.

Military, War, Long

James Madison (1787). “The Writings of James Madison: 1787. The journal of the Constitutional convention”, p.317

Our opinions agree as to the evil, moral, political, and economical, of slavery.

Evil, Political, Slavery

James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.193

It is due to justice; due to humanity; due to truth; due to the sympathies of our nature; in fine, to our character as a people, both abroad and at home, that they should be considered, as much as possible, in the light of human beings, and not as mere property. As such, they are acted on by our laws, and have an interest in our laws. They may be considered as making a part, though a degraded part, of the families to which they belong.

Character, Home, Light

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

American citizens are instrumental in carrying on a traffic in enslaved Africans, equally in violation of the laws of humanity and in defiance of those of their own country. The same just and benevolent motives which produced interdiction in force against this criminal conduct will doubtless be felt by Congress in devising further means of suppressing the evil.

Country, Mean, Law

James Madison, Robert Allen Rutland (1996). “The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series”

Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such changes be instituted by some informal and unauthorized propositions, made by some patriotic and respectable citizen or number of citizens.

Moving, Patriotic, Numbers

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.196, Coventry House Publishing

[Montesquieu] lifted the veil from the venerable errors which enslaved opinion, and pointed the way to those luminous truths of which he had but a glimpse himself.

Errors, Glimpse, Veils

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.474

It is possible that these may all be insufficient to control the caprice and wickedness of man. But are they not all that government will admit, and all that human prudence can devise?

Men, Wickedness, May

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Henry Barton Dawson (1864). “The Fœderalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favor of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Fœderal Convention, September 17, 1787. Reprinted from the Original Text. With an Historical Introduction and Notes”, p.399, New York : C. Scribner ; London : Sampson Low

In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate governments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.

Two, America, Rights

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.256, Coventry House Publishing

When indeed Religion is kindled into enthusiasm, its force like that of other passions is increased by the sympathy of a multitude. But enthusiasm is only a temporary state of Religion, and whilst it lasts will hardly be seen with pleasure at the helm. Even in its coolest state, it has been much oftener a motive to oppression than a restraint from it.

Passion, Religion, Atheism

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

Because the bill in reserving a certain parcel of land in the United States for the use of said Baptist Church comprises a principle and a precedent for the appropriation of funds of the United States for the use and support of religious societies, contrary to the article of the Constitution which declares that "Congress shall make no law respecting a religious establishment."

Religious, Law, Land

James Madison (1819). “The Writings of James Madison: 1808-1819”, p.133

Are not the daily devotions conducted by these legal ecclesiastics already degenerating into a scanty attendance, and a tiresome formality?

Atheism, Attendance, Devotion

James Madison (1999). “Writings”

The rich man, when contributing to a permanent plan for the education of the poor, ought to reflect that he is providing for that of his own descendants; and the poor man who concurs in a provision for those who are not poor that at no distant day it may be enjoyed by descendants from himself. It does not require a long life to witness these vicissitudes of fortune.

Education, Men, Long

James Madison (1965). “The forging of American federalism: selected writings of James Madison”

Born: March 16, 1751 - June 28, 1836
Occupation: 4th U.S. President

Quotes: 548

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