Government Quotes by James Madison
All Government quotes James Madison’s page
James Madison stresses that a government’s power must be limited and split among many hands. He warns against mixing religion with law and says free voting is a core right. He also notes that state governments keep many powers while the federal government has only a few.
![“Religion [is] the basis and foundation of Government” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/e4d/james-madison-373_bases_religion-is-the-basis-and-foundation-of_729493.png)
![“[I]t is the reason alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/d24/james-madison-373_government_i-t-is-the-reason-alone-of-the-public-th_2548852.png)
![“I go by the great republican principle, that the people will have the virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom [to the offices of government].” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/e9e/james-madison-373_government_i-go-by-the-great-republican-principle-t_868432.png)
![“In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by Power. In America ... charters of power [are] granted by liberty.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/fa6/james-madison-373_america_in-europe-charters-of-liberty-have-been_776849.png)
![“And may I not be allowed to ... read in the character of the American people, in their devotion to true liberty and to the Constitution which is its palladium [protection], ... a Government which watches over ... the equal interdict [prohibition] against encroachments and compacts between religion…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/1a9/james-madison-373_american-people_and-may-i-not-be-allowed-to-read-in-the_833132.png)
![“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…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/88a/james-madison-373_accumulation_the-danger-of-silent-accumulations-encro_796893.png)
![“[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…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/946/james-madison-373_administration_t-he-bill-exceeds-the-rightful-authority_2868755.png)
![“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…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/1e3/james-madison-373_army_the-constitution-expressly-and-exclusive_277138.jpg)
![“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…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/07a/james-madison-373_2-amendment_it-is-not-certain-that-with-this-aid-alo_1101340.png)
