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James Madison Quotes - Page 3

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The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce. ... The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives and liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the State.

James Madison
War, Government, Order

Despotism can only exist in darkness.

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

To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.

James Madison
Government, Ideas, People
James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.24, University of Virginia Press

Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few... No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

James Madison
Inspirational, War, Army
"Political Observations" by James Madison, founders.archives.gov. April 20, 1795.

Philosophy is common sense with big words.

James Madison
Philosophy, Medicine, Common Sense

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.

James Madison
War, Liberty, Bears
James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.471

[Y]ou will understand the game behind the curtain too well not to perceive the old trick of turning every contingency into a resource for accumulating force in the government.

James Madison
Government, Games, Resources
James Madison (1867). “1794-1815”, p.7

Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.

James Madison
Bible, God, Education

A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.

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

The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.

James Madison
Confidence, Money, Self Esteem
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

No error is more certain than the one proceeding from a hasty and superficial view of the subject.

James Madison
Errors, Views, Superficial
James Madison (1867). “Letters and Other Writings of James Madison”, p.277

The right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon . . . has ever been justly deemed the only effectual guardian of every other right.

James Madison
Communication, Character, People
Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates, J. W. Randolph, James Madison (1850). “The Virginia Report of 1799-1800: Touching the Alien and Sedition Laws; Together with the Virginia Resolutions of December 21, 1798, Including the Debate and Proceedings Thereon in the House of Delegates of Virginia and Other Documents Illustrative of the Report and Resolutions”, p.23

The problem to be solved is, not what form of government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.

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

The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.

James Madison
Freedom, War, Mean

We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.

James Madison
Liberty, Alarms, Tyranny Founding Fathers

The people can never willfully betray their own interests: But they may possibly be betrayed by the representatives of the people; and the danger will be evidently greater where the whole legislative trust is lodged in the hands of one body of men, than where the concurrence of separate and dissimilar bodies is required in every public act.

James Madison
Men, Hands, People
James Madison, John Jay (1847). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.255

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.

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

We have seen the mere distinction of color made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man.

James Madison
Men, Color, Slavery
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, Yate's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution”

What a perversion of the normal order of things! ... to make power the primary and central object of the social system, and Liberty but its satellite.

James Madison
Order, Liberty, Normal

If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare... they may appoint teachers in every state... The powers of Congress would subvert the very foundation, the very nature of the limited government established by the people of America.

James Madison
Teacher, Government, America
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.429

We've staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all our heart.

James Madison
4th Of July, Heart, Ability

Temporary deviations from fundamental principles are always more or less dangerous. When the first pretext fails, those who become interested in prolonging the evil will rarely be at a loss for other pretexts.

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

The truth was that all men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

James Madison
Truth, Men, Presidential
James Madison's notes on the debates in the Federal Convention, avalon.law.yale.edu. July 11, 1787.

With respect to the words "general welfare," I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.

James Madison
Character, Government, Liberty
James Madison's letter to James Robertson, April 20, 1831.

if the people are to be our governors, they must arm themselves with knowledge.

James Madison
People, Arms, Governors