Form Quotes by James Madison

Democracy is the most vile form of government.

— James Madison

In all great changes of established governments, forms ought to give way to substance

— James Madison

In a society under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy may as truly…

— James Madison

The problem to be solved is, not what form of government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.

— James Madison

A people armed and free, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition and is a bulwark for the nation against foreign…

— James Madison

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

— James Madison

It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any…

— James Madison

The Federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local…

— James Madison

History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control…

— James Madison

In order to judge of the form to be given to this institution the Senate, it will be proper to take a…

— James Madison

The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation and involves the spirit of party and…

— James Madison

[In a democracy] a common passion or interest will, in almost every case , be felt by a majority of the whole;…

— James Madison

It degrades from the equal rank of Citizens all those whose opinions in Religion do not bend to those of the Legislative…

— James Madison

Place three individuals in a situation wherein the interest of each depends on the voice of the others, and give to two…

— James Madison

In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms…

— James Madison

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

— James Madison

The important distinction so well understood in America between a constitution established by the people, and unalterable by the government; and a…

— James Madison

If we resort for a criterion to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a…

— James Madison

The first question that offers itself is, whether the general form and aspect of the government be strictly republican? It is evident…

— James Madison

It becomes all therefore who are friends of a Government based on free principles to reflect, that by denying the possibility of…

— James Madison

Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government…

— James Madison

Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate…

— James Madison