---
title: "6 Fundamental principles Quotes By James Madison"
description: "6 Fundamental principles quotes by James Madison. Plus more from James Madison and more Fundamental principles sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/james-madison-373_combination_what-is-the-structure-of-government-that_185741.jpg"
---

> [What is the structure of government that will best guard against the precipitate counsels and factious combinations for unjust purposes, without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/what-is-the-structure-of-government-that-will-best-guard-against-the/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/james-madison-373_combination_what-is-the-structure-of-government-that_185741.jpg)

> [Temporary deviations from fundamental principles are always more or less dangerous. When the first pretext fails, those who become interested in prolonging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/temporary-deviations-from-fundamental-principles-are-always-more-or/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/james-madison-373_dangerous_temporary-deviations-from-fundamental-pr_212403.png)

> [The first question that offers itself is, whether the general form and aspect of the government be strictly republican? It is evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-first-question-that-offers-itself-is-whether-the-general-form-and/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/james-madison-373_america_the-first-question-that-offers-itself-is_1607295.png)

> [It will be remembered, that a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is solemnly enjoined by most of the state constitutions, and particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-will-be-remembered-that-a-frequent-recurrence-to-fundamental/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/james-madison-373_constitution_it-will-be-remembered-that-a-frequent-re_1860228.png)

> [There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/there-is-not-a-more-important-and-fundamental-principle-in/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/james-madison-373_appropriation_there-is-not-a-more-important-and-fundam_1952872.png)

> [There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/there-is-not-a-more-important-and-fundamental-principle-in-2/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/james-madison-373_appropriation_there-is-not-a-more-important-and-fundam_2202432.png)

## 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/knowledge-will-forever-govern-ignorance-and-a-people-who-mean-to-be/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/rulers-who-wished-to-subvert-the-public-liberty-may-have-found-an/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-powers-delegated-by-the-proposed-constitution-to-the-federal/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [ It is certain that every class is interested in \[educational\] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-interested-in-educational/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/since-it-is-impossible-for-the-people-spontaneously-and-universally/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-definition-of-the-right-of-suffrage-is-very-justly-regarded-as-a/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-future-and-success-of-america-is-not-in-this-constitution-but-in/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/they-can-make-no-law-which-will-not-have-its-full-operation-on/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-effect-of-a-representative-democracy-is-to-refine-and-enlarge-the/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/but-besides-the-danger-of-a-direct-mixture-of-religion-civil/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [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;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-a-reflection-on-human-nature-that-such-devices-should-be/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-better-proof-of-reverence-for-that-holy-name-would-be-not-to/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

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