Religion Quote by James Madison
““[T]here remains [in some parts of the country] a strong bias towards the old error, that without some sort of alliance or coalition between Govt. & Religion neither can be duly supported. Such indeed is the tendency to such a coalition, and such its corrupting influence on both parties, that the danger cannot be too carefully guarded agst.””
About This Quote
Source Letter: Private correspondence, 1795
Political-religious alliances create bias and corruption, threatening impartial governance.
In simple terms: Mixing politics and religion breeds bias.
Maintain separation of powers.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legislative drafting
- public discourse
- church‑state relations
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent coalition abuse?
- How does bias affect policy outcomes?
Alliances can sometimes stabilize societies.