All James Madison Quotes
- Nothing has yet been offered to invalidate the doctrine that the meaning of the Constitution may as well be ascertained by the Legislative as by… Ascertained
- I acknowledge, in the ordinary course of government, that the exposition of the laws and Constitution devolves upon the judicial. But I beg to know… Acknowledge
- [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… Blended
- [T]he great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department consists in giving to those who administer each department the… Administer
- A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions. Auxiliary
- To what expedient then shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in… All
- As the war was just in its origin and necessary and noble in its objects, we can reflect with a proud satisfaction that in carrying… Been
- The safety and happiness of society are the objects at which all political institutions aim, and to which all such institutions must be sacrificed. Aim
- Procrastination in the beginning and precipitation towards the conclusion is the characteristic of such bodies. Beginning
- Besides the danger of a direct mixture of religion and civil government, there is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite… Accumulation
- All power in human hands is liable to be abused. Abused
- Every word decides a question between power and liberty. Decides
- Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression. Danger
- It is very certain that [the commerce clause] grew out of the abuse of the power by the importing States in taxing the non-importing, and… Abuse
- The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are… Constitution
- Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.... Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several… Advantage
- 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… Able
- The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more… Charity
- Place three individuals in a situation wherein the interest of each depends on the voice of the others, and give to two of them an… Danger
- It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other. All
- The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated. Advice
- Because we hold it for 'a fundamental and undeniable truth', that religion or 'the duty which we owe to our Creator' and the manner of… Conviction
- Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe:… Abridged
- The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion.... Better
- The Constitution of the U.S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. Constitution