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James Madison Quotes about Freedom

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Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

Education, Wisdom, Freedom

1822; cited in U.S. Senate, Alleged Assassination Plots (1975).

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.

Inspirational, Freedom, Fear

"The Last Enemy" by Rebecca Sato, www.pbs.org. November 11, 2010.

Democracies have been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their death.

Freedom, Democracies Have, Rights

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.46

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

Freedom, Believe, Power

Speech at Virginia Convention, 5 June 1788

Americans need not fear the federal government because they enjoy the advantage of being armed, which you possess over the people of almost every other nation.

Freedom, Gun, Government

The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.

Education, Freedom, Inspirational Life

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.41, University of Virginia Press

No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

Freedom, War, Democracies Have

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.

Freedom, War, Mean

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”

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

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

Country, Freedom, Justice

It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.

Freedom, Real, War

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

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

Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be a less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

Freedom, Animal, Fire

The Federalist no. 10 (1788)

In civilized communities, property as well as personal rights is an essential object of the laws, which encourage industry by securing the enjoyment of its fruits; that industry from which property results, and that enjoyment which consists not merely in its immediate use, but in its posthumous destination to objects of choice, and of kindred affection. In a just and free government, therefore, the rights both of property and of persons ought to be effectually guarded.

Freedom, Law, Rights

"Selections from the Private Correspondence of James Madison, from 1813 to 1836".

Popular liberty might then have escaped the indelible reproach of decreeing to the same citizens, the hemlock on one day, and statues on the next.

Freedom, One Day, Liberty

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.309, Coventry House Publishing

Happily for America, happily, we trust, for the whole human race, they pursued a new and more noble course. They accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society.

Freedom, 4th Of July, America

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.64

The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone, and that it will not depend merely on the comparative ambition or address of the different governments, whether either, or which of them, will be able to enlarge its sphere of jurisdiction at the expense of the other.

Freedom, Gun, Democracies Have

"America's Founding Documents: The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights".

In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by power. America has set the example . . . of charters of power granted by liberty. This revolution in the practice of the world, may, with an honest praise, be pronounced the most triumphant epoch of its history, and the most consoling presage of its happiness.

Freedom, Europe, Practice

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.20, University of Virginia Press

If justice, good faith, honor, gratitude and all the other qualities which enoble the character of a nation, and fulfill the ends of Government be the fruits of our establishments, the cause of liberty will acquire a dignity and lustre, which it has never yet enjoyed, and an example will be set, which can not but have the most favorable influence on the rights of Mankind.

Gratitude, Freedom, Character

Jonathan Elliot, James Madison, United States. Constitutional Convention (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.131

No man will subject himself to the ridicule of pretending that any natural connection subsists between the sun or the seasons, and the period within which human virtue can bear the temptations of power. Happily for mankind, liberty is not, in this respect, confined to any single point of time, but lies within extremes, which afford sufficient latitude for all the variations which may be required by the various situations and circumstances of civil society.

Freedom, Lying, Men

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.260, Cambridge University Press

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

Quotes: 548

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