James Madison Quotes - Page 22

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• 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.

  James Madison

  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

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• [T]he bill exceeds the rightful authority to which governments are limited by the essential distinction between civil and religious functions, and violates in particular the article of the Constitution of the United States which declares that Congress shall make no law respecting a religious establishment.... This particular church, therefore, would so far be a religious establishment by law, a legal force and sanction being given to certain articles in its constitution and administration.

  James Madison

  Religious, Law, Government

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• The danger of silent accumulations & encroachments by Ecclesiastical Bodies have not sufficiently engaged attention in the U.S. [...] Besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government, there is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by ecclesiastical Corporations. [...] The establishment of the chaplainship to Congs. is a palpable violation of equal rights, as well as of Constitutional principles.

  James Madison

  Rights, Government, Evil

  "Monopolies. Perpetuities. Corporations. Ecclesiastical Endowments". Essay by James Madison, founders.archives.gov. Circa January 31, 1820.

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• Man is known to be a selfish, as well as a social being.

  James Madison

  Selfish, Men, Human Nature

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

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• Were it possible so to accelerate the intercourse between every part of the globe that all its inhabitants could be united under the superintending authority of an ecumenical Council, how great a portion of human evils would be avoided.

  James Madison

  Peace, Evil, Would Be

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

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• The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.

  James Madison

  Men, Differences, Causes

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, J.R. Pole (2005). “The Federalist”, p.49, Hackett Publishing

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• It is to the press mankind are indebted for having dispelled the clouds which so long encompassed religion, for disclosing her genuine lustre, and disseminating her salutary doctrines.

  James Madison

  Clouds, Long, Religion

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

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• [Christianity] existed and flourishes, not only without the support of human laws, but in spite of every opposition from them.

  James Madison

  Law, Support, Religion

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• I have received your letter of the 6th, with the eloquent discourse delivered at the consecration of the Jewish Synagogue. Having ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions and worship as equally belonging to every sect, and the secure enjoyment of it as the best human provision for bringing all either into the same way of thinking, or into that mutual charity which is the only substitute, I observe with pleasure the view you give of the spirit in which your sect partake of the blessings offered by our Government and laws.

  James Madison

  Religious, Thinking, Blessing

  James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.97

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• How a regulation so unjust in itself, so foreign to the authority of Congress, and so hurtful to the sale of public land, and smelling so strongly of an antiquated bigotry, could have received the countenance of a committee is truly a matter of astonishment.

  James Madison

  Land, Hurtful, Atheism

  James Madison (1867). “1769-1793”, p.154

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• Congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any Manner contrary to their conscience.

  James Madison

  Men, Law, Atheism

  James Madison (1999). “Writings”

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• The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter,to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens and greater sphere of country over which the latter may be extended.

  James Madison

  Country, Differences, Numbers

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2016). “The Federalist Papers and the Constitution of the United States: The Principles of the American Government”, p.58, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious sect.

  James Madison

  Religious, Rights, Perfect

  James Madison (1867). “1816-1828”, p.179

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• [The public has] the habit now of invalidating opinions emanating from me by reference to my age and infirmities.

  James Madison

  Age, Opinion, Habit

  James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.355

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• These examples, though as unfit for the imitation, as they are repugnant to the genius of America, are notwithstanding . . . very instructive proofs of the necessity of some institution that will blend stability with liberty.

  James Madison

  America, Liberty, Example

  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

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• The most that the Convention could do in such a situation, was to avoid the errors suggested by the past experience of other countries, as well as of our own; and to provide a convenient mode of rectifying their own errors, as future experience may unfold them.

  James Madison

  Country, Past, Errors

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.162

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• Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence, and ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption; all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects.

  James Madison

  Religious, Ignorance, Liberty

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

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• There is one view of the subject which ought to have its influence on those who espouse doctrines which strike at the authoritative origin and efficacious operation of the Government of the United States. The Government of the U.S. like all Governments free in their principles, rests on compact; a compact, not between the Government & the parties who formed & live under it; but among the parties themselves, and the strongest of Governments are those in which the compacts were most fairly formed and most faithfully executed.

  James Madison

  Party, Government, Views

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• I flatter myself [we] have in this country extinguished forever the ambitious hope of making laws for the human mind.

  James Madison

  Country, Law, Forever

  James Madison (1787). “The Writings of James Madison: 1783-1787”, p.216

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• Who are to be the objects of popular choice? Every citizen whose merit may recommend him to the esteem and confidence of his country.

  James Madison

  Country, Choices, Citizens

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.263

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• The experience of the United States is a happy disproof of the error so long rooted in the unenlightened minds of well meaning Christians, as well as in the corrupt hearts of persecuting Usurpers, that without a legal incorporation of religious and civil polity, neither could be supported. A mutual independence is found most friendly to practical Religion, to social harmony, and to political prosperity.

  James Madison

  Christian, Religious, Heart

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

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• Should ardent spirits be everywhere banished from the list of drinks, it will be a revolution not the least remarkable in this revolutionary age, and our country will have its full share in that as in other merits.

  James Madison

  Country, Alcohol, Age

  James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.384

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• The general government is proscribed from the interfering, in any manner whatsoever, in matters respecting religion; and it may be thought to do this, in ascertaining who, and who are not, ministers of the gospel.

  James Madison

  Government, Atheism, May

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