--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a free government the security for…" description: "\"In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms [of government], for th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/james-madison-373_citizens_in-a-free-government-the-security-for-ci_2251086.png" --- # In a free government the security for civil rights must be… ![“In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms [of government], for the rights of every class of citizens, will be diminished: and consequently the stability and independence of some member of the government, the only…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/james-madison-373_citizens_in-a-free-government-the-security-for-ci_2251086.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/james-madison-373_citizens_in-a-free-government-the-security-for-ci_2251086.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/james-madison-373_citizens_in-a-free-government-the-security-for-ci_2251086.png) > “In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms \[of government\], for the rights of every class of citizens, will be diminished: and consequently the stability and independence of some member of the government, the only other security, must be proportionately increased. Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” [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. Justice must be equally protected for all rights, and the government’s purpose is to secure liberty and fairness. **In simple terms:** Justice protects all rights; government exists to secure liberty. Key Takeaway Ensure equal protection of rights. Themes justice liberty government rights equality Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical legal When to use this quote - legislative drafting - court rulings - civil rights advocacy - policy making Key Concepts social contract rule of law balance of power Questions to Reflect On - How can we safeguard justice against partisan bias? - What mechanisms ensure equal protection for all citizens? A Different Perspective Justice can be compromised by political interests or unequal enforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-society/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Forms of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms-of-government/) [Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-rights-2793972/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-right/) [Religious rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-rights/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-religious-1005502/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) ## Related quotes > [In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-a-free-government-the-security-for-civil-rights-must-be-the-same/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [In a free Government, the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-a-free-government-the-security-for-civil-rights-must-be-the-same-2/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [In a free government, the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/in-a-free-government-the-security-for-civil-rights-must-be-the-same-4/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Whenever equality rights and religious rights collide, equality rights trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-toews/whenever-equality-rights-and-religious-rights-collide-equality-rights/) [Vic Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-toews/) > [Rights mean you have a right to your life. You have a right to your liberty, and you should have a right to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/rights-mean-you-have-a-right-to-your-life-you-have-a-right-to-your/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I heard the prophet Joseph Smith say the time would come when this nation would so far depart from its original purity, its glory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-r-snow/i-heard-the-prophet-joseph-smith-say-the-time-would-come-when-this/) [Eliza R. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-r-snow/) > [It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-otis-warren/it-is-necessary-for-every-american-with-becoming-energy-to-endeavor/) [Mercy Otis Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-otis-warren/) > [Indeed, in a free government almost all other rights would become worthless if the government possessed power over the private fortune of every citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/indeed-in-a-free-government-almost-all-other-rights-would-become/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [What other nations call religious toleration, we call religious rights. 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The country that was once discovered by people seeking religious freedom is now oppressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-mayhew/the-nation-has-been-turned-upside-down-and-inside-out-the-country/) [Rick Mayhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-mayhew/) > [I am now speaking of rights under the Constitution, and not of moral or religious rights. I do not discuss the morals of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-am-now-speaking-of-rights-under-the-constitution-and-not-of-moral/) [Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/) > [I am the greatest advocate of the Constitution…The only fault I find with the Constitution is, it is not broad enough to cover the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-am-the-greatest-advocate-of-the-constitution-the-only-fault-i-find/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [We are persuaded that good Christians will always be good citizens, and that where righteousness prevails among individuals the Nation will be great and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-are-persuaded-that-good-christians-will-always-be-good-citizens/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## 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. 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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/) > [“... 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