--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A popular government without popular…" description: "\"A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.\" — James Ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png" --- # A popular government without popular information or the… ![“A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png) > “A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.” [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. A government lacking transparent information and means to obtain it risks becoming a farcical or tragic failure. **In simple terms:** Without open information, government fails. Key Takeaway Ensure public access to information. Themes government information transparency democracy Mood cautious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - media regulation - public policy - civic education Key Concepts Public sphere theory information rights Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect information access? - What safeguards prevent misinformation? A Different Perspective Information control can be used for manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [Farce is tragedy played at a thousand revolutions per minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/farce-is-tragedy-played-at-a-thousand-revolutions-per-minute/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Some say that popular government is still only a theory, and it must be admitted that no one has yet found a government that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-say-that-popular-government-is-still-only-a-theory-and-it-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. 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/) > [Popular congresses are the only means to achieve popular democracy. Any system of government other than popular congresses is undemocratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/popular-congresses-are-the-only-means-to-achieve-popular-democracy/) [Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/) > [Freedom of expression - in particular, freedom of the press - guarantees popular participation in the decisions and actions of government, and popular participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corazon-aquino/freedom-of-expression-in-particular-freedom-of-the-press-guarantees/) [Corazon Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corazon-aquino/) > [The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few but how honestly and fairly it deals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-test-of-a-government-is-not-how-popular-it-is-with-the-powerful/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [ \[V\]irtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/v-irtue-or-morality-is-a-necessary-spring-of-popular-government/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > ['Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/tis-substantially-true-that-virtue-or-morality-is-a-necessary-spring/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/it-is-clear-that-in-a-monarchy-where-he-who-commands-the-exceution-of/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [The success of our popular government rests wholly upon the correct interpretation of the deliberate, intelligent, dependable popular will of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-harding/the-success-of-our-popular-government-rests-wholly-upon-the-correct/) [Warren G. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-harding/) > [lf the attribute of popular government in peace is virtue, the attribute of popular government in revolution is at one and the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilien-robespierre/lf-the-attribute-of-popular-government-in-peace-is-virtue-the/) [Maximilien Robespierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilien-robespierre/) > [Lawyers are necessary in a community. Some of you...take a different view; but as I am a member of that legal profession, or was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/lawyers-are-necessary-in-a-community-some-of-you-take-a-different/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The evils of popular government appear greater than they are; there is compensation for them in spirit and energy it awakens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-evils-of-popular-government-appear-greater-than-they-are-there-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Democracy may mean something more than a theoretically absolute popular government, but it assuredly cannot mean anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-croly/democracy-may-mean-something-more-than-a-theoretically-absolute/) [Herbert Croly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-croly/) ## More by James Madison > [“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. 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. But what is government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-a-reflection-on-human-nature-that-such-devices-should-be/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-better-proof-of-reverence-for-that-holy-name-would-be-not-to/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) [Explore all 628 James Madison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) ## More Farce quotes > [I knew nothing about farce until I read Puce a l'Oreille, and had no idea what a deadly serious business it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-knew-nothing-about-farce-until-i-read-puce-a-l-oreille-and-had-no/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“After a tragedy, a farce. Philosophy enters into her power, and the earth returns under one's feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/after-a-tragedy-a-farce-philosophy-enters-into-her-power-and-the/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-colvin/as-so-often-a-political-event-involving-donald-trump-looks-like/) [Mark Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-colvin/) > [One of the great problems of philosophy, is the relationship between the realm of knowledge and the realm of values. Knowledge is what is;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/one-of-the-great-problems-of-philosophy-is-the-relationship-between/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) > [I have observed that in comedies the best actor plays the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the fine gentleman or hero. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Keep in mind that the Iraqis are not telling us anything we don't already know or can't prove. This is what makes this whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/keep-in-mind-that-the-iraqis-are-not-telling-us-anything-we-don-t/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [History that repeats itself turns to farce. Farce that repeats itself turns to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/history-that-repeats-itself-turns-to-farce-farce-that-repeats-itself/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/life-is-a-farce-and-should-not-end-with-a-mourning-scene/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Dinner at the Huntercombes possessed only two dramatic features: the wine was a farce and the food a tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/dinner-at-the-huntercombes-possessed-only-two-dramatic-features-the/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [A farce, or slapstick humor, does well universally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/a-farce-or-slapstick-humor-does-well-universally/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [The biggest farce of man's history has been the argument that wars are fought to save civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-mckenzie/the-biggest-farce-of-man-s-history-has-been-the-argument-that-wars/) [Charles E. McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-mckenzie/) > [The EU report speaks for itself. The statement in my view shows that the mission has turned out to be something worse than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meles-zenawi/the-eu-report-speaks-for-itself-the-statement-in-my-view-shows-that/) [Meles Zenawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meles-zenawi/) > [Parliament is the longest running farce in the West End.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-smith/parliament-is-the-longest-running-farce-in-the-west-end/) Cyril Smith > [“Meaning, yes -- I don't really exist except on the page or in the back of your brain. But if you think it's weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-michel-sullivan/meaning-yes-i-don-t-really-exist-except-on-the-page-or-in-the-back-of/) Kyle Michel Sullivan > [In the best farce today we start with some absurd premise as to character or situation, but if the premises be once granted we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-best-farce-today-we-start-with-some-absurd-premise-as-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 156 Farce quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Madison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-popular-government-without-popular-information-or-the-means-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Farce" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-popular-government-without-popular-information-or-the-means-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/james-madison-373_farce_a-popular-government-without-popular-inf_1993005.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce…” — James Madison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Madison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A popular government without popular information...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-popular-government-without-popular-information-or-the-means-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-popular-government-without-popular-information-or-the-means-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```