A government that does not trust it's law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is itself unworthy of trust. — James Madison Copy Share Image
The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several… — James Madison Copy Share Image
A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The power of taxing people and their property is essential to the very existence of government. — James Madison Copy Share Image
I have no doubt but that the misery of the lower classes will be found to abate wherever the Government assumes a… — James Madison Copy Share Image
In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by Power. In America ... charters of power [are] granted by liberty. — James Madison Copy Share Image
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Experience has instructed us that no skill in the science of government has yet been able to discriminate and define, with sufficient… — James Madison Copy Share Image
I acknowledge, in the ordinary course of government, that the exposition of the laws and Constitution devolves upon the judicial. But I… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end… — James Madison Copy Share Image
It is possible that these may all be insufficient to control the caprice and wickedness of man. But are they not all… — James Madison Copy Share Image
... the State Legislatures will jealously and closely watch the operations of this Government, and be able to resist with more effect… — James Madison Copy Share Image
In this relation, then, the proposed government cannot be deemed a national one; since its jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects only,… — James Madison Copy Share Image
[I]n the next place, to show that unless these departments be so far connected and blended as to give to each a… — James Madison Copy Share Image
[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be… — James Madison Copy Share Image
It may be considered as an objection inherent in the principle, that as every appeal to the people would carry an implication… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising… — James Madison Copy Share Image
If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The danger of silent accumulations & encroachments by Ecclesiastical Bodies have not sufficiently engaged attention in the U.S. [...] Besides the danger… — James Madison Copy Share Image
[T]he bill exceeds the rightful authority to which governments are limited by the essential distinction between civil and religious functions, and violates… — James Madison Copy Share Image
May it not be asked of every intelligent friend to the liberties of his country, whether the power exercised in such an… — James Madison Copy Share Image
We are teaching the world the great truth that Governments do better without Kings & Nobles than with them. — James Madison Copy Share Image
I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on… — James Madison Copy Share Image
A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy,… — James Madison Copy Share Image
I go by the great republican principle, that the people will have the virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and… — James Madison Copy Share Image
I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse, and in a Republican Government a greater curse than… — James Madison Copy Share Image
[Y]ou will understand the game behind the curtain too well not to perceive the old trick of turning every contingency into a… — James Madison Copy Share Image
A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one. — James Madison Copy Share Image
Americans need not fear the federal government because they enjoy the advantage of being armed, which you possess over the people of… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The rights of man as the foundation of just Government had been long understood but the superstructures projected had been sadly defective — James Madison Copy Share Image
The problem to be solved is, not what form of government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect. — James Madison Copy Share Image
A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person. — James Madison Copy Share Image
The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The governments of Europe are afraid to trust the people with arms. If they did, the people would certainly shake off the… — James Madison Copy Share Image
To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. — James Madison Copy Share Image
In the extent and proper structure of the Union, therefore, we behold a republican remedy for the disease incident to republican government. — James Madison Copy Share Image
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments… — James Madison Copy Share Image
How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,… — James Madison Copy Share Image
It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government. — James Madison Copy Share Image
The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded. — James Madison Copy Share Image
They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body… — James Madison Copy Share Image
“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded… — James Madison Copy Share Image
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;… — James Madison Copy Share Image
“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion… — James Madison Copy Share Image
![“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/quotes/img-quotes/fa6/james-madison-373_america_in-europe-charters-of-liberty-have-been_776849.jpg)
![“[I]n the next place, to show that unless these departments be so far connected and blended as to give to each a constitutional control over the others, the degree of separation which the maxim requires, as essential to a free government, can never in practice be duly maintained.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a20/james-madison-373_connected_i-n-the-next-place-to-show-that-unless-t_2940160.jpg)
![“[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other-that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.jpg)
![“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/quotes/img-quotes/1e3/james-madison-373_army_the-constitution-expressly-and-exclusive_277138.jpg)
![“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/quotes/img-quotes/88a/james-madison-373_accumulation_the-danger-of-silent-accumulations-encro_796893.jpg)
![“[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/quotes/img-quotes/946/james-madison-373_administration_t-he-bill-exceeds-the-rightful-authority_2868755.jpg)
![“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/quotes/img-quotes/e9e/james-madison-373_government_i-go-by-the-great-republican-principle-t_868432.jpg)
![“[Y]ou will understand the game behind the curtain too well not to perceive the old trick of turning every contingency into a resource for accumulating force in the government.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f54/james-madison-373_behinds_y-ou-will-understand-the-game-behind-the_1873634.jpg)
![“It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country its truest and most durable celebrity.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/964/james-madison-373_certain_it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-intere_22217.jpg)
