Assembly Quote by James Madison
![“[Regarding legislative assemblies,] the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever characters composed, passion never fails to wrest the scepter from reason. Had every…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2e9/james-madison-373_assembly_regarding-legislative-assemblies-the-num_1037098.jpg)
“[Regarding legislative assemblies,] the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever characters composed, passion never fails to wrest the scepter from reason. Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Federalist Papers, No. 10, 1787
Large assemblies tend to become chaotic, allowing passions to dominate over reason, leading to mob-like behavior.
In simple terms: Too many people in a group cause chaos and irrational decisions.
Key Takeaway
Limit group size to preserve rational decision‑making.
Themes
politics
democracy
group dynamics
reason
passion
Mood
cautious
analytical
concerned
Type
political
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- legislative bodies
- community meetings
- online forums
- corporate boards
Key Concepts
public sphere
collective behavior
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions balance inclusivity with effective deliberation?
- What safeguards prevent passion from overriding reason?
A Different Perspective
Large groups can still be disciplined with strong institutional rules.
![“I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world." [As quoted in Plutarch's Of Banishment ]” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6dc/socrates-405_cosmopolitan_i-am-not-an-athenian-or-a-greek-but-a-ci_2951058.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)
![“Mac [Barnett] and I prank each other during our presentation. We show baby pictures of each other looking completely ridiculous. I can't believe the frilly shirt that I'm in, and Mac's wearing a sailor suit and playing a toy piano. That's a perfect example of a good prank, where we have three…” quote by Jory John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afb/jory-john-60334_assembly_mac-barnett-and-i-prank-each-other-durin_50495.jpg)
