--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [A]ll power is originally vested in, and…" description: "\"[A]ll power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/james-madison-373_adverse_a-ll-power-is-originally-vested-in-and-c_2491092.jpg" --- # \[A\]ll power is originally vested in, and consequently… ![“[A]ll power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty and the right of acquiring property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/james-madison-373_adverse_a-ll-power-is-originally-vested-in-and-c_2491092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/james-madison-373_adverse_a-ll-power-is-originally-vested-in-and-c_2491092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/james-madison-373_adverse_a-ll-power-is-originally-vested-in-and-c_2491092.jpg) > “\[A\]ll power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty and the right of acquiring property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their government whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purpose of its institution.” [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The people hold ultimate authority and must ensure government serves their liberty, property, and happiness, retaining the right to change it if it fails. **In simple terms:** People are sovereign and can replace bad government. Key Takeaway Guard your liberty by staying vigilant. Themes politics rights government citizenry Mood determined hopeful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - protests - constitutional amendments - community organizing Key Concepts social contract popular sovereignty reform Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure peaceful reform? - How do you balance stability with the right to change? A Different Perspective Changing government can be chaotic and may not guarantee better outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adverse/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Change Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-government-381839/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Instituted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-instituted-376321/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inadequate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inadequate/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-liberty-330722/) [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Obtaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obtaining/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-government-313211/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Government is instituted to protect property of every sort; as well that which lies in the various rights of individuals, as that which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/government-is-instituted-to-protect-property-of-every-sort-as-well/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-rights-of-persons-and-the-rights-of-property-are-the-objects-for/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [If we advert to the nature of republican government, we shall find that the censorial power is in the people over the government, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/if-we-advert-to-the-nature-of-republican-government-we-shall-find/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The great desideratum in Government is, so to modify the sovereignty as that it may be sufficiently neutral between different parts of the Society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-great-desideratum-in-government-is-so-to-modify-the-sovereignty/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [To resume, in a few words, the system of the Imperial government, as it was instituted by Augustus, and maintained by those princes who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/to-resume-in-a-few-words-the-system-of-the-imperial-government-as-it/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/why-has-government-been-instituted-at-all-because-the-passions-of-man/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [To preserve, to improve, and to perpetuate the sources and to direct in their most effective channels the streams which contribute to the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/to-preserve-to-improve-and-to-perpetuate-the-sources-and-to-direct-in/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Patriotism is not 'my country right or wrong'; patriotism means loving the ideals for which America stands and having the courage to speak up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/patriotism-is-not-my-country-right-or-wrong-patriotism-means-loving/) [Robert A. 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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. 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I've had a lot of it, and I have been able to shrug most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/people-frequently-ask-me-if-adverse-criticism-bothers-me-i-ve-had-a/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [A society in which conjugal infidelity is tolerated must always be in the long run a society adverse to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-society-in-which-conjugal-infidelity-is-tolerated-must-always-be-in/) [C. S. 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Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [Our actions today will protect children from the adverse effects of exposure to pesticides commonly used on foods. The agency also is on schedule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-browner/our-actions-today-will-protect-children-from-the-adverse-effects-of/) [Carol Browner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-browner/) > [I have just been conversing with one man, to whom no weight of adverse experience will make it for a moment appear impossible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-have-just-been-conversing-with-one-man-to-whom-no-weight-of-adverse/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There are a lot of people in Milwaukee who have had adverse impacts from Scott Walker. 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They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/in-the-area-of-trading-it-is-now-an-academically-demonstrated-fact/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) [Browse all 190 Adverse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adverse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[A]ll power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty and the right of acquiring property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. 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