--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [In government] the constant aim is to…" description: "\"[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other-that the privat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png" --- # \[In government\] the constant aim is to divide and arrange… ![“[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other-that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png) > “\[In government\] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other-that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights.” [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. Dividing government powers creates mutual checks, ensuring private interests protect public rights. **In simple terms:** Checks and balances safeguard liberty. Key Takeaway Design balanced institutions. Themes governance rights balance Mood cautious serious Type political historical When to use this quote - legislative reform - constitutional design - public administration - civic education Key Concepts separation of powers public trust Questions to Reflect On - How effective are modern checks and balances? - What reforms improve accountability? A Different Perspective Power can still concentrate despite structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Sentinels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentinels/) ## Related quotes > [The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and cool self-love alone; therefore the appetites and passions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/the-private-interest-of-the-individual-would-not-be-sufficiently/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Basically I am a private individual who has concerns about his country and who has resources that give me the privilege - and responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scaife/basically-i-am-a-private-individual-who-has-concerns-about-his/) Richard Scaife > [A man's rights are not violated by a private individual's refusal to deal with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-man-s-rights-are-not-violated-by-a-private-individual-s-refusal-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We do not accost a physician as we do any mere nobody; nor a magistrate as we do a private individual. We try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/we-do-not-accost-a-physician-as-we-do-any-mere-nobody-nor-a/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“I’ve always been a very private individual. For a lot of reasons. But mainly one. The man I lived with for all that time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-skinner/i-ve-always-been-a-very-private-individual-for-a-lot-of-reasons-but/) [Dan Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-skinner/) > [I don't know who took what. That is pretty private with an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-palmeiro/i-don-t-know-who-took-what-that-is-pretty-private-with-an-individual/) [Rafael Palmeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-palmeiro/) > [Since the narrower or wider community of the peoples of the earth has developed so far that a violation of rights in one place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/since-the-narrower-or-wider-community-of-the-peoples-of-the-earth-has/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [There should be some commonsense principles that will assure the American public that their rights are going to be protected online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/there-should-be-some-commonsense-principles-that-will-assure-the/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [If democracy is destroyed in Britain, it will be not the communists, Trotskyists or subversives but this House which threw it away. The rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/if-democracy-is-destroyed-in-britain-it-will-be-not-the-communists/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Legally speaking, there are no such things as 'public rights,' as distinguished from individual rights. Legally speaking, there is no such creature or thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/legally-speaking-there-are-no-such-things-as-public-rights-as/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The public can have no rights springing from injustice to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-romilly/the-public-can-have-no-rights-springing-from-injustice-to-others/) Frederick Romilly > [Legally speaking, the term 'public rights' is as vague and indefinite as are the terms 'public health,' 'public good,' 'public welfare,' and the like.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/legally-speaking-the-term-public-rights-is-as-vague-and-indefinite-as/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The people, especially when moderately instructed, are the only safe, because the only honest, depositaries of the public rights, and should therefore be introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-especially-when-moderately-instructed-are-the-only-safe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the public's right to know is threatened, all other public rights are threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dodd/when-the-public-s-right-to-know-is-threatened-all-other-public-rights/) [Christopher Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dodd/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) ## 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 Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other-that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Madison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-divide-and-arrange-the-several/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-divide-and-arrange-the-several/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/james-madison-373_aim_in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-div_988905.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each…” — 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": "[In government] the constant aim is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-divide-and-arrange-the-several/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-government-the-constant-aim-is-to-divide-and-arrange-the-several/#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 } } ] } ```