---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From this view of the subject it may be…"
description: "\"“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assem..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg"
---

#  From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a…

![“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg)

> ““From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.””

[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.

Pure democracy with small citizen assemblies cannot prevent factional conflict, leading to instability and threats to property and security.

**In simple terms:** Small direct democracies are unstable due to factions.

Key Takeaway

Beware factionalism in direct governance.

Themes

politics democracy faction stability

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

philosophical historical

When to use this quote

- legislative design
- constitutional drafting
- civic education
- public debate

Key Concepts

political theory republicanism

Questions to Reflect On

- Can safeguards protect minorities in direct democracy?
- What institutional checks reduce factional harm?

A Different Perspective

Direct democracy may still be vulnerable to majority tyranny.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies/) [Democracies Spectacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies-spectacles-2152070/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-mean-694555/) [Individual Democracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-democracies-1768130/) [Personal security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-security/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pure Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-democracy-536654/)

## Related quotes

> [A pure Democracy, by which I mean a Society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the Government in person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-pure-democracy-by-which-i-mean-a-society-consisting-of-a-small/)

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

> [“on Democracies: "there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/on-democracies-there-is-nothing-to-check-the-inducements-to-sacrifice/)

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

> [Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/hence-it-is-that-such-democracies-have-ever-been-spectacles-of/)

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

> [A pure democracy can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will be felt by a majority, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-pure-democracy-can-admit-no-cure-for-the-mischiefs-of-faction-a/)

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

> [The power should be in individual democracies in individual communities. It shouldn't be an oligarchy or some small group of elite. Power should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/the-power-should-be-in-individual-democracies-in-individual/)

[Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/)

> [Democracies have been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general been as short in their lives as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/democracies-have-been-found-incompatible-with-personal-security-or/)

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

> [It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-has-been-observed-that-a-pure-democracy-if-it-were-practicable/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-pure-democracy-is-a-society-consisting-of-a-small-number-of/)

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

> [It may be concluded that a pure democracy . . . can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure-democracy-can-admit-no-cure-for-the/)

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

> [“Citizens no longer understand democracy to mean a condition of political equality, in which one person gets one vote, and every individual is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-nichols/citizens-no-longer-understand-democracy-to-mean-a-condition-of/)

[Thomas M. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-nichols/)

> [Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/political-democracy-cannot-last-unless-there-lies-at-the-base-of-it/)

[B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/)

> [When we say 'democracy' we have to mean what we say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/when-we-say-democracy-we-have-to-mean-what-we-say/)

[Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/)

> [“A democracy of mean and ignorant people is just as scary as any other horrible form of government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/a-democracy-of-mean-and-ignorant-people-is-just-as-scary-as-any-other/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [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/)

> [All that socialism means to me, to be very frank with you, is democracy with a small 'd.' I believe in democracy, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/all-that-socialism-means-to-me-to-be-very-frank-with-you-is-democracy/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

## 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 Democracies quotes

> [“the democracies that arose after the First World War (and the Second) often collapsed when a single party seized power in some combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/the-democracies-that-arose-after-the-first-world-war-and-the-second/)

[Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/)

> [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/)

[Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/)

> [The idea that democracies could be vulnerable to demagogues is not a new notion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kristol/the-idea-that-democracies-could-be-vulnerable-to-demagogues-is-not-a/)

[Bill Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kristol/)

> [There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/there-is-one-safeguard-known-generally-to-the-wise-which-is-an/)

[Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/)

> [All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/all-democracies-turn-into-dictatorships-but-not-by-coup-the-people/)

[George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/)

> [Our Declaration of Independence declares that democracies derive their power from the 'consent of the governed.' But this democracy will fail if only some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/our-declaration-of-independence-declares-that-democracies-derive/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [It is a law of governance that democracies have to spend themselves dizzy. Citizens of democracies can, after all, tell their government to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-is-a-law-of-governance-that-democracies-have-to-spend-themselves/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Israel is one of the greatest and most modern democracies on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/israel-is-one-of-the-greatest-and-most-modern-democracies-on-the/)

[Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/)

> [What other, newer democracies find relatively easy - conducting an election, the counting of votes, the peaceful transition of power - seems to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/what-other-newer-democracies-find-relatively-easy-conducting-an/)

[Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/)

> [Democracies don't go to war against each other, and by and large they don't sponsor terrorism. They're more likely to respect the environment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/democracies-don-t-go-to-war-against-each-other-and-by-and-large-they/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [I think we need to be a superpower of human rights, of support for true grassroots democracy, not corporatist economic development, which suits our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-think-we-need-to-be-a-superpower-of-human-rights-of-support-for/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [The all but unanimous judgment seems to be that we, the democracies, are just as responsible for the rise of the dictators as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-all-but-unanimous-judgment-seems-to-be-that-we-the-democracies/)

[Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/)

> [“Whatever modern democracies may tell themselves about their commitment to free speech and to diversity of opinion, the values of a given society will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/whatever-modern-democracies-may-tell-themselves-about-their/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [“Western democracies did not create the virtue of citizenship; on the contrary, they grew from it. Nothing is more evident in The Federalist than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/western-democracies-did-not-create-the-virtue-of-citizenship-on-the/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

[Browse all 231 Democracies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Madison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracies"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/james-madison-373_democracies_from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be_2371652.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society…” — 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": "“From this view of the subject...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/from-this-view-of-the-subject-it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```