James Madison Quotes - Page 19

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Place three individuals in a situation wherein the interest of each depends on the voice of the others, and give to two of them an interest opposed to the rights of the third. Will the latter be secure? The prudence of every man would shun the danger. The rules & forms of justice suppose & guard against it. Will two thousand in a like situation be less likely to encroach on the rights of one thousand?

James Madison

Men, Rights, Two

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

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It is not certain that with this aid alone [possession of arms], they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to posses the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will, and direct the national force; and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned, in spite of the legions which surround it.

James Madison

Government, Europe, People

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[In a democracy] a common passion or interest will, in almost every case , be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert results from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual.

James Madison

Party, Communication, Passion

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788”, p.45

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It may not be improper, however, to remark two consequences, evidently flowing from an extension of the federal power to every subject falling within the idea of the "general welfare." One consequence must be, to enlarge the sphere of discretion allotted to the executive magistrate... The other consequence would be, that of an excessive augmentation of the offices, honors, and emoluments, depending on the executive will.

James Madison

Fall, Ideas, Two

"The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution".

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It would have marked a want of foresight in the convention, which our own experience would have rendered inexcusable.

James Madison

Want, Conventions, Constitutional Convention

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.205

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Whilst the last members were signing it Doctr. Franklin looking towards the Presidents chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him, that Painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun.

James Madison

Art, President, Constitution Of The United States

James Madison, Edward J. Larson, Michael P. Winship (2011). “The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison”, p.237, Modern Library

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I have appealed to our own experience for the truth of what I advance on this subject [that the legislative power is the predominant power]. Were it necessary to verify this experience by particular proofs, they might be multiplied without end. I might find a witness in every citizen who has shared in, or been attentive to, the course of public administrations.

James Madison

Administration, Citizens, Might

"Federalist No. 48. These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No Constitutional Control Over Each Other" by James Madison, www.congress.gov. February 1, 1788.

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[T]he most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination. A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views.

James Madison

Growing Up, Fall, Views

The Federalist no. 10 (1788)

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From the the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results.

James Madison

Degrees, Different, Kind

The Federalist no. 10 (1788)

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For the same reason that the members of the State legislatures will be unlikely to attach themselves sufficiently to national objects, the members of the federal legislature will be likely to attach themselves too much to local objects.

James Madison

Too Much, Reason, Members

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.219

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A local spirit will infallibly prevail much more in the members of Congress than a national spirit will prevail in the legislatures of the particular States.

James Madison

Spirit, Legislature, States

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.218

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A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking.

James Madison

Wisdom, Mean, Government

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

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The members of the legislative department . . . are numerous. They are distributed and dwell among the people at large. Their connections of blood, of friendship, and of acquaintance embrace a great proportion of the most influential part of the society . . . they are more immediately the confidential guardians of their rights and liberties.

James Madison

Blood, Rights, People

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.249, Coventry House Publishing

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In the extent and proper structure of the Union, therefore, we behold a republican remedy for the disease incident to republican government.

James Madison

Government, Unions, Disease

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

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The first question that offers itself is, whether the general form and aspect of the government be strictly republican? It is evident that no other form would be reconcileable with the genius of the people of America; with the fundamental principles of the revolution; or with that honourable determination which animates every votary of freedom, to rest all our political experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.

James Madison

Determination, Government, Self

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

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The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government.

James Madison

Rights, Government, Fundamentals

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.243

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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.

James Madison

Freedom, Lying, Men

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

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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.

James Madison

Freedom, Europe, Practice

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

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That useful alterations will be suggested by experience, could not but be foreseen . . . . It moreover equally enables the general and state governments to originate the amendment of errors as they may be pointed out by the experience on one side or on the other.

James Madison

Errors, Government, Sides

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.204

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Another advantage accruing from this ingredient in the constitution of a senate, is the additional impediment it must prove against improper acts of legislation. No law or resolution can now be passed without the concurrence first of a majority of the people, and then of a majority of the states.

James Madison

Law, People, Federalism

Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison (2018). “America's Founding Documents: The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights”, p.403, First Avenue Editions

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[A]s it must be admitted that the remedy under the Constitution lies where it has been marked out by the Constitution; and that no appeal can be consistently made from that remedy by those who were and still profess to be parties to it, but the appeal to the parties themselves having an authority above the Constitution or to the law of nature & of nature's God.

James Madison

Lying, Party, Law

James Madison (1853). “Selections from the Private Correspondence of James Madison: From 1813 to 1836”, p.406

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The American people are too well schooled in the duty and practice of submitting to the will of the majority to permit any serious uneasiness on that account

James Madison

Practice, People, Serious

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.94

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A public debt is a public curse.

James Madison

Presidential, Debt, Curse

Letter to Henry Lee, 13 Apr. 1790

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The nation which reposes on the pillow of political confidence, will sooner or later end its political existence in a deadly lethargy.

James Madison

Political, Politics, Ends

James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.511

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The citizens of the United States have peculiar motives to support the energy of their constitutional charters.

James Madison

Support, Liberty, Citizens

James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.468

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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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