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James Madison Quotes - Page 7

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What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government

What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? 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.

Nature, Patriotic, Angel

1788 The Federalist, Jan.

No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause; because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time.

Religious, Party, Men

"Federalist No. 10". Essay by James Madison, November 22, 1787.

There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be misapplied, and which, therefore, more needs elucidation, than the current one, that the interest of the majority is the political standard of right and wrong.

Political, Liberty, Majority

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.68, University of Virginia Press

Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.... Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

Military, Government, Europe

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.221

Can it be of less consequence that the meaning of a Constitution should be fixed and known, than a meaning of a law should be so?

Law, Constitution, Should

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.616

Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that, being a natural and unalienable right.

Exercise, Law, Sacred

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

The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right.

Giving, Liberty, Protection

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

Who does not see that . . . the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?

Support, Church, May

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

The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could be greater than that of devising a satisfactory remedy for it.

Evil, Slavery, Merit

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

The growing wealth aquired by them corporations never fails to be a source of abuses.

Abuse, Democracy, Growing

It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.

Government, Evil, Perfect

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

The management of foreign relations appears to be the most susceptible of abuse of all the trusts committed to a Government, because they can be concealed or disclosed, or disclosed in such parts and at such times as will best suit particular views; and because the body of the people are less capable of judging, and are more under the influence of prejudices, on that branch of their affairs, than of any other. Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.

Real, Home, Loss

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.49, University of Virginia Press

But ambitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments, would not excite the opposition of a single State, or of a few States only. They would be signals of general alarm . . . But what degree of madness could ever drive the federal government to such an extremity.

Government, Ambitious, Federalism

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.220

No man can be a competent legislator who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment a certain degree of knowledge of the subject on which he is to legislate.

Men, Sound, Degrees

James Madison, John Jay (1847). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.216

The capacity of the female mind for studies of the highest order cannot be doubted, having been sufficiently illustrated by its works of genius, of erudition, and of science.

Order, Mind, Female

James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.232

The civil Government, though bereft of every thing like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success; whilst the number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the State.

Government, Religion, Atheism

"Letters and Other Writings of James Madison".

Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government.

Government, Atheism, Liberty

James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.276

What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch of commerce when he knows not that his plans may be rendered unlawful before they can be executed?

Hazards, Branches, May

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.288

There is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust.

Voting, Degrees, Depravity

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.259

The security intended to the general liberty consists in the frequent election and in the rotation of the members of Congress.

Political, Liberty, Term Limits

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1864). “The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States”, p.116

So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property.

Strong, Fall, Passion

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.44

You give me a credit to which I have no claim in calling me "the writer of the Constitution of the United States." This was not, like the fabled Goddess of Wisdom, the offspring of a single brain. It ought to be regarded as the work of many heads and many hands.

Hands, Giving, Brain

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.341

The great desideratum in Government is, so to modify the sovereignty as that it may be sufficiently neutral between different parts of the Society to controul one part from invading the rights of another, and at the same time sufficiently controuled itself, from setting up an interest adverse to that of the entire Society.

Rights, Government, Different

James Madison (1867). “1769-1793”, p.353

Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that being a natural and unalienable right. To guard a man's house as his castle, to pay public and enforce private debts with the most exact faith, can give no title to invade a man's conscience, which is more sacred than his castle, or to withhold from it that debt of protection for which the public faith is pledged by the very nature and original conditions of the social pact.

Exercise, Men, Law

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

Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?

Christian, Atheist, Religion

"Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments" (1785)

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

Quotes: 548

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