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People Quotes by James Madison

91 People quotes by James Madison

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The ultimate authority lives in the people, not just in distant institutions. He stresses that an educated citizenry is essential for lasting freedom, and that government must serve the public good above all. He also points out that the Constitution gains legitimacy only when it reflects the express consent of the people.

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The power of taxing people and their property is essential to the very existence of government.

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The express authority of the people alone could give validity to the Constitution.

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if the people are to be our governors, they must arm themselves with knowledge.

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Democracy was the right of the people to choose their own tyrant.

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People will continue to seek justice until it is found, or until liberty is lost in the pursuit.

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Disarm the people- that is the best and most effective way to enslave them.

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A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.

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The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone.

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In suits at common law, trial by jury in civil cases is as essential to secure the liberty of the people as…

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The people shall not be restrained from peacefully assembling and consulting for their common good, nor from applying to the legislature by…

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It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the…

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I go by the great republican principle, that the people will have the virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and…

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I consider the difference between a system founded on the legislatures only, and one founded on the people, to be the true…

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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…

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War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of…

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I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in…

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The members of the legislative department . . . are numerous. They are distributed and dwell among the people at large. Their…

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And may I not be allowed to ... read in the character of the American people, in their devotion to true liberty…

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It is to be the assent and ratification of the several States, derived from the supreme authority in each State, the authority…

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Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential,…

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If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare... they may appoint teachers in every state... The powers of Congress would…

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As the people of the United States enjoy the great merit of having established a system of Government on the basis of…

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If it be asked what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a…

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It is too early for politicians to presume on our forgetting that the public good, the real welfare of the great body…

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In proportion to the value of this revolution; in proportion to the importance of instruments, every word of which decides a question…

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If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government…

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Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have…

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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.…

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I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those…

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May it not be asked of every intelligent friend to the liberties of his country, whether the power exercised in such an…

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In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied;…

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The liberal appropriations made by the legislature of Kentucky for a general system of education cannot be too much applauded . .…

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In no instance have... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.

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Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust…

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The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several…

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A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms…

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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…

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It may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more constant to the public…

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If we advert to the nature of republican government, we shall find that the censorial power is in the people over the…

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A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a…

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More by James Madison

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

Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate…

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments…

How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…

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

Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such…

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

The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded.

They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass…

The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body…

“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded…

Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…

“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government…

The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion…