James Madison Quotes - Page 14

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The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the union of the states be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened, and the disguised one as the serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into paradise.

James Madison

Heart, Advice, Enemy

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

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[A] mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands.

James Madison

Government, Hands, Political

James Madison, John Jay (1847). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.202

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The real wonder is that so many difficulties should have been surmounted [in the federal convention], and surmounted with a unanimity almost as unprecedented as it must have been unexpected. It is impossible for any man of candor to reflect on this circumstance without partaking of the astonishment. It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.

James Madison

Real, Reflection, Men

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.173, Cambridge University Press

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It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country its truest and most durable celebrity.

James Madison

Education, Country, Class

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

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THE Constitution proposed by the convention may be considered under two general points of view. The FIRST relates to the sum or quantity of power which it vests in the government, including the restraints imposed on the States. The SECOND, to the particular structure of the government, and the distribution of this power among its branches.

James Madison

Government, Views, Two

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution”, p.200

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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.

James Madison

Ambition, Liberty, Made

The Federalist no. 51 (1788)

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I should not regret a fair and full trial of the entire abolition of capital punishment.

James Madison

Regret, Punishment, Trials

James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.342

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The smaller the society, the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing it; the fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the same party; . . . the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression.

James Madison

Party, Majority, Oppression

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.47

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Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not.

James Madison

Government, Atheism, Liberty

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

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To the Baptist Churches on Neal's Greek on Black Creek, North Carolina I have received, fellow-citizens, your address, approving my objection to the Bill containing a grant of public land to the Baptist Church at Salem Meeting House, Mississippi Territory. Having always regarded the practical distinction between Religion and Civil Government as essential to the purity of both, and as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, I could not have otherwise discharged my duty on the occasion which presented itself

James Madison

Government, Land, House

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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.

James Madison

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".

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As compacts, charters of government are superior in obligation to all others, because they give effect to all others. As truths, none can be more sacred, because they are bound, on the conscience by the religious sanctions of an oath. As metes and bounds of government, they transcend all other land-marks, because every public usurpation is an encroachment on the private right, not of one, but of all.

James Madison

Religious, Land, Government

James Madison (1906). “The Writings of James Madison: 1790-1802”

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Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.

James Madison

Men, Saving, Matter

James Madison, Virginia. General assembly, 1785 (1828). “A memorial and remonstrance, on the religious rights of man; written in 1784-5, at the request of the religious society of Baptists in Virginia. ...”, p.4

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The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of the nation.

James Madison

Views, Democracy, Citizens

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2004). “The Federalist Papers”, p.680, Simon and Schuster

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The rich man, when contributing to a permanent plan for the education of the poor, ought to reflect that he is providing for that of his own descendants; and the poor man who concurs in a provision for those who are not poor that at no distant day it may be enjoyed by descendants from himself. It does not require a long life to witness these vicissitudes of fortune.

James Madison

Education, Men, Long

James Madison (1965). “The forging of American federalism: selected writings of James Madison”

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... the State Legislatures will jealously and closely watch the operations of this Government, and be able to resist with more effect every assumption of power, than any other power on earth can do; and the greatest opponents to a Federal Government admit the State Legislatures to be sure guardians of the people's liberty.

James Madison

Government, People, Liberty

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

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On any other hypothesis, the delegation of judicial power would annul the authority delegating it; and the concurrence of this department with the others in usurped powers, might subvert forever, and beyond the possible reach of any rightful remedy, the very Constitution which all were instituted to preserve.

James Madison

Forever, Judicial Power, Might

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

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[Regarding legislative assemblies,] the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever characters composed, passion never fails to wrest the scepter from reason. Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.

James Madison

Character, Passion, Order

James Madison, John Jay (1901). “The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States”

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Any reading not of a vicious species must be a good substitute for the amusements too apt to fill up the leisure of the labouring classes.

James Madison

Reading, Class, Amusement

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

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As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other, and the former will be objects to which the latter attach themselves.

James Madison

Passion, Exercise, Men

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Henry Barton Dawson (1864). “The Fœderalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favor of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Fœderal Convention, September 17, 1787. Reprinted from the Original Text. With an Historical Introduction and Notes”, p.57, New York : C. Scribner ; London : Sampson Low

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In republican government the legislative authority necessarily predominates. The remedy for this . . . is to divide the legislature into different branches; and to render them by different modes of election, and different principles of action, as little connected with each other as the nature of their common functions, and their common dependence on the society, will admit.

James Madison

Government, Political, Principles

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2009). “The Federalist”, p.341, Harvard University Press

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Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption

James Madison

Ignorance, Religious Truth, Corruption

James Madison, David B. Mattern (1997). “James Madison's "Advice to My Country"”, p.90, University of Virginia Press

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The Constitution of the United States was created by the people of the United States composing the respective states, who alone had the right.

James Madison

Patriotic, America, People

James Madison (1859). “Selections from the Private Correspondence of James Madison, from 1813 to 1836”, p.119

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An armed and trained militia is the firmest bulwark of republics - that without standing armies their liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones safe.

James Madison

Army, Patriotism, Liberty

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

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[I]n the next place, to show that unless these departments be so far connected and blended as to give to each a constitutional control over the others, the degree of separation which the maxim requires, as essential to a free government, can never in practice be duly maintained.

James Madison

Government, Practice, Giving

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788”, p.228

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Born: March 16, 1751
Died: June 28, 1836
Occupation: 4th U.S. President
Cite this Page: Citation

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