---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the most deplorable effect of all, is…"
description: "\"But the most deplorable effect of all, is that diminution of attachment and reverence, which steals into the hearts of the people, towards a political ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg"
---

#  But the most deplorable effect of all, is that diminution…

![“But the most deplorable effect of all, is that diminution of attachment and reverence, which steals into the hearts of the people, towards a political system which betrays so many marks of infirmity, and disappoints so many of their flattering hopes. No government, any more than an individual…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg)

> “But the most deplorable effect of all, is that diminution of attachment and reverence, which steals into the hearts of the people, towards a political system which betrays so many marks of infirmity, and disappoints so many of their flattering hopes. No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected, without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.”

[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.

Respect for government requires inherent order, stability, and moral integrity.

**In simple terms:** Government needs order and respect.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate stable, respectable institutions.

Themes

politics respect order

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- public policy
- institutional reform
- civic education

Key Concepts

governance morality

Questions to Reflect On

- What practices ensure governmental respect?
- How to balance order with flexibility?

A Different Perspective

Power can erode respect despite stability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attachment/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Infirmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infirmity/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Political systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-systems/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/)

## Related quotes

> [Noble causes have a deplorable effect on the morals of the persons who espouse them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/noble-causes-have-a-deplorable-effect-on-the-morals-of-the-persons/)

[Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/)

> [ \[The public has\] the habit now of invalidating opinions emanating from me by reference to my age and infirmities. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-public-has-the-habit-now-of-invalidating-opinions-emanating-from/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/among-the-features-peculiar-to-the-political-system-of-the-united-2/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/among-the-features-peculiar-to-the-political-system-of-the-united/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [There was an event called the World Transformed, which was set up by Momentum, and people from across the political spectrum have had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/there-was-an-event-called-the-world-transformed-which-was-set-up-by/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [To have hundreds of people from every political and demographic group you can imagine coming out day after day to take part in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/to-have-hundreds-of-people-from-every-political-and-demographic-group/)

[Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/)

> [Both the Left and the Right need to connect as people rather than as political entities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sykes/both-the-left-and-the-right-need-to-connect-as-people-rather-than-as/)

[Charlie Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sykes/)

> [“If we are to put an end to division, people from all political persuasions will have to stop fighting one another and seek true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/if-we-are-to-put-an-end-to-division-people-from-all-political/)

[Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/)

> [People of every political viewpoint need to work together to end this worsening culture of abuse that has permeated our political debate and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/people-of-every-political-viewpoint-need-to-work-together-to-end-this/)

[Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/)

> [Well, Bill, I don't think you're going to find many shy people that are in the political business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mccallum/well-bill-i-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-find-many-shy-people-that-are/)

[Scott McCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mccallum/)

> [When people see political ads, they think someone's lying to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/when-people-see-political-ads-they-think-someone-s-lying-to-them/)

[Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/)

> [I've been very fortunate to work for great people - so even when the political process gets ugly, I find inspiration in the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cutter/i-ve-been-very-fortunate-to-work-for-great-people-so-even-when-the/)

[Stephanie Cutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cutter/)

> [That's a deep change in priorities. People are much less political today. They have found other values of life. We are developing normal attitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/that-s-a-deep-change-in-priorities-people-are-much-less-political/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [No other chancellor in the long history of the office has felt the need to pass a law in order to convince people he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/no-other-chancellor-in-the-long-history-of-the-office-has-felt-the/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [A lot of people are very political when they are young, and then they outgrow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/a-lot-of-people-are-very-political-when-they-are-young-and-then-they/)

[Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/)

## 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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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 Attachment quotes

> [Some persons are so inclined to mortify themselves that at every opportunity they have, they do so. What a beautiful practice this is, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-rodriguez/some-persons-are-so-inclined-to-mortify-themselves-that-at-every/)

Alphonsus Rodriguez

> [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/)

[Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/)

> [When attachment Dies… Formalities are Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-vaswani/when-attachment-dies-formalities-are-born/)

[Hemant Vaswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-vaswani/)

> [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/)

[Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/)

> [The real goal of Zen is to find a way of life that's easy and undramatic. Strong attachments lead to upset and drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/the-real-goal-of-zen-is-to-find-a-way-of-life-that-s-easy-and/)

[Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/)

> [“The past is no good if you can't learn from it; therefore, no sense in dwelling on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arians-karlovi-s/the-past-is-no-good-if-you-can-t-learn-from-it-therefore-no-sense-in/)

Arians Karlovičs

> [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Money is not a problem, but unintelligent attachment to it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/money-is-not-a-problem-but-unintelligent-attachment-to-it-is/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [“You need to belong to yourself, and let others belong to themselves too. You need to be free and detached from things and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/you-need-to-belong-to-yourself-and-let-others-belong-to-themselves/)

[Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/)

> [All our attachments are outward oriented and hence this illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-our-attachments-are-outward-oriented-and-hence-this-illusion/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It is attachment that makes people forget not only their moral duties but even who they really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/it-is-attachment-that-makes-people-forget-not-only-their-moral-duties/)

[Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/)

> [... professing myself moreover convinced that the general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/professing-myself-moreover-convinced-that-the-general-s-unjust/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

[Browse all 959 Attachment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attachment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But the most deplorable effect of all, is that diminution of attachment and reverence, which steals into the hearts of the people, towards a political system which betrays so many marks of infirmity, and disappoints so many of their flattering hopes. No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected, without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Madison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is-that-diminution-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attachment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is-that-diminution-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/james-madison-373_attachment_but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is_2789895.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But the most deplorable effect of all, is that diminution of attachment and reverence, which steals into the…” — 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": "But the most deplorable effect of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is-that-diminution-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/but-the-most-deplorable-effect-of-all-is-that-diminution-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
