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James Madison Quotes - Page 4

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That is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where the property which a man has in his personal safety and personal liberty, is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of citizens for the service

That is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where the property which a man has in his personal safety and personal liberty, is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of citizens for the service of the rest.

Men, Class, Safety

James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.479

A pure Democracy, by which I mean a Society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the Government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of Government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party, or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is, that such Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives, as they have been violent in their deaths.

Party, Passion, Sacrifice

"Federalist No. 10 (The Federalist Papers)". Essay by James Madison, November 23, 1787.

That the foundation of our national policy should be laid in private morality. If individuals be not influenced by moral principles, it is in vain to look for public virtue; it is, therefore, the duty of legislators to enforce, both by precept and example, the utility, as well as the necessity, of a strict adherence to the rules of distributive justice.

Justice, Voting, Foundation

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.

Lying, Angel, Men

Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2017). “The Origin of the Nation: Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and Other Amendments, Federalist Papers & Common Sense: Creating America - Landmark Documents that Shaped a New Nation”, p.308, Madison & Adams Press

Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.... During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.

Religious, Atheist, Ignorance

No free country has ever been without Parties, which are a natural offspring of freedom.

Country, Freedom, Party

James Madison (1840). “The Papers of James Madison: Purchased by Order of the Congress, Being His Correspondence and Reports of Debates During the Congress of the Confederation, and His Reports of Debates in the Federal Convention; Now Published from the Original Manuscripts, Deposited in the Department of State”

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.

War, Liberty, Tyranny Founding Fathers

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the new constitution, written in 1788, with an appendix, containing the letters of Pacificus and Helvidius on the proclamation of neutrality of 1793, also the original articles of confederation and the constitution of the United States”, p.451

Each State, in ratifying the Constitution, is considered as a sovereign body, independent of all others, and only to be bound by its own voluntary act. In this relation, then, the new Constitution will, if established, be a FEDERAL, and not a NATIONAL constitution.

Wisdom, Independent, America

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.177

All power in human hands is liable to be abused.

Hands, Presidential, Liable

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.80, University of Virginia Press

Congress shall never disarm any citizen unless such as are or have been in actual rebellion.

Citizens, Rebellion, Congress

James Madison, Gaillard Hunt, James Brown Scott (1999). “The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787: Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America”, p.658, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment.

Men, Judging, Causes

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay (2016). “The Federalist Papers: The Making of the US Constitution”, p.43, Arcturus Publishing

It is of great importance in a republic, not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers; but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part.

Republican Government, Tyranny Of The Majority, Injustice

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.241

A bad cause seldom fails to betray itself.

Causes, Failing, Betray

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.189

If we advert to the nature of republican government, we shall find that the censorial power is in the people over the government, and not in the government over the people.

Freedom, Government, People

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.95, University of Virginia Press

Good conscience is the most valuable asset of all!

Assets, Valuable, Conscience

I consider it…as subverting the fundamental and characteristic principle of the Government…and as bidding defiance to the sense in which the Constitution is known to have been proposed, advocated, and adopted. If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one.

Government, Principles, Bidding

James Madison (1867). “1769-1793”, p.546

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

Power, Men, Liberty

The Federalist no. 51 (1788)

No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.

Government, Order, Long

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.305, Cambridge University Press

A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.

People, Liberty, Wells

James Madison (1819). “The Writings of James Madison: 1808-1819”, p.127

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.

Government, Justice, Voting

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.241

War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.

Peace, War, Government

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

In no instance have... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.

Atheist, People, Church

Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild season, through a pleasant country, in easy stages.

Country, Journey, Medicine

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.36, University of Virginia Press

Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.

Party, Rights, Justice

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.42

Our country, if it does justice to itself, will be the workshop of liberty to the civilized world.

Country, Freedom, Justice

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

Quotes: 548

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