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James Madison Quotes - Page 8

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By rendering the labor of one, the property of the other, they cherish pride, luxury, and vanity on one side; on the other, vice and servility, or hatred and revolt.

By rendering the labor of one, the property of the other, they cherish pride, luxury, and vanity on one side; on the other, vice and servility, or hatred and revolt.

Pride, Vanity, Two Sides

As the people of the United States enjoy the great merit of having established a system of Government on the basis of human rights, and of giving it a form without example, which, as they believe, unites the greatest national strength with the best security for public order and individual liberty, they owe to themselves, to their posterity and to the world, a preservation of the system in its purity, its symmetry, and its authenticity.

Believe, Rights, Government

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.138

The appointment of senators by the state legislatures . . . is recommended by the double advantage of favoring a select appointment, and of giving to the state governments such an agency in the formation of the federal government, as must secure the authority of the former.

Government, Agency, Giving

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

Procrastination in the beginning and precipitation towards the conclusion is the characteristic of such bodies.

Procrastination, Body, Characteristics

I think it absolutely necessary that the President should have the power of removing his subordinates from office; it will make him, in a peculiar manner, responsible for their conduct, and subject him to impeachment himself, if he suffers them to perpetrate with impunity high crimes or misdemeanors against the United States, or neglects to superintend their conduct, so as to check their excesses.

Thinking, Should Have, Office

James Madison (1904). “The Writings of James Madison: 1787-1790”

The primary function of government is to protect the minority of the opulent from the majority of the poor.

Government, Majority, Minorities

Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.

Real, Lying, Government Lies

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

Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.

Government, Unions, Violence

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2009). “The Federalist”, p.52, Harvard University Press

It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.

War, America, Principles

James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.17

Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.

Men, Ideas, People

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

America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity. That part of America which had encouraged them most had advanced most rapidly in population, agriculture and the arts.

Art, Agriculture, America

Attempts to enforce by legal sanctions, acts obnoxious to so great a proportion of Citizens, tend to enervate the laws in general, and to slacken the bands of Society. If it be difficult to execute any law which is not generally deemed necessary or salutary, what must be the case, where it is deemed invalid and dangerous? And what may be the effect of so striking an example of impotency in the Government, on its general authority?

Government, Law, May

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

Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.

Mob Rule, Citizens, Assembly

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.272, Coventry House Publishing

I entirely concur in the propriety of resorting to the sense in which the Constitution was accepted and ratified by the nation. In that sense alone it is the legitimate Constitution. And if that is not the guide in expounding it, there may be no security.

May, Constitution, Accepted

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.34, University of Virginia Press

Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that 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, Government

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.47, Coventry House Publishing

I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse and in a republican government more than in any other.

Government, Principles, Debt

Letter to Henry Lee, 13 Apr. 1790

The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.

Government, United States, Charity

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.431

Every word of [the Constitution] decides a question between power and liberty.

Liberty

"The forging of American federalism: selected writings of James Madison".

The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising armies.... A delegation of such powers [to the President] would have struck, not only at the fabric of our Constitution, but at the foundation of all well organized and well checked governments. The separation of the power of declaring war from that of conducting it, is wisely contrived to exclude the danger of its being declared for the sake of its being conducted.

War, Army, Government

[The Republican Party] consists of those who, believing in the doctrine that mankind are capable of governing themselves and hating hereditary power as an insult to the reason and an outrage to the rights of men, are naturally offended at every public measure that does not appeal to the understanding and to the general interest of the community.

Hate, Party, Believe

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.482

In framing a system, which we wish to last for ages, we should not lose sight of the changes which ages will produce.

Sight, Wish, Age

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”

If this spirit shall ever be so far debased, as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty.

Freedom, Law, People

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

The Constitution of the U.S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion.

Constitution, Separation, Founding Fathers Religion

"Concerned Catholic Paul Ryan Wants Priests to Shut Up About the Poor" by Charles P. Pierce, www.esquire.com. April 27, 2018.

The people shall not be restrained from peacefully assembling and consulting for their common good, nor from applying to the legislature by petitions, or remonstrances for redress of their grievances.

People, Freedom Of Speech, Common

The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.

Rights, Government, Liberty

James Madison (1999). “Writings”

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

Quotes: 548

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