---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The passions, therefore, not the reason…"
description: "\"The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and reg..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png"
---

#  The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public…

![“The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controlled and regulated by the government.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png)

> “The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controlled and regulated by the government.”

[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.

Reason should guide public governance, while passions are to be restrained by law.

**In simple terms:** Reason controls government, passions are regulated.

Key Takeaway

Let reason dominate policy decisions.

Themes

politics governance reason passion law

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- legislative drafting
- policy debates
- civic education

Key Concepts

social contract checks and balances public will

Questions to Reflect On

- How can policies balance reason with public sentiment?
- What mechanisms ensure passions don't dominate governance?

A Different Perspective

Reason alone may ignore emotional needs of citizens.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/)

## Related quotes

> [ \[I\]t is the reason alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-t-is-the-reason-alone-of-the-public-that-ought-to-control-and/)

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

> [It is essential..that you should form and adopt certain rules or principles, for the government of your own conduct and temper. Unless you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/it-is-essential-that-you-should-form-and-adopt-certain-rules-or/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [A government by the passions of the multitude, or, no less correctly, according to the vices, and ambitions of their leaders is a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-ames/a-government-by-the-passions-of-the-multitude-or-no-less-correctly/)

[Fisher Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-ames/)

> [When we give a subsidy, the benefits to the public ought to exceed the benefits to the company. When it doesn't, that's our definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/when-we-give-a-subsidy-the-benefits-to-the-public-ought-to-exceed-the/)

[John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/)

> [If a man breaks a pledge, the public ought to know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/if-a-man-breaks-a-pledge-the-public-ought-to-know-it/)

[Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/)

> [“if dreams may be called passions. I see no reason not to call them passions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/if-dreams-may-be-called-passions-i-see-no-reason-not-to-call-them/)

[Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/)

> [By directing our sentiments, passions, and reason toward the common human plight, imagination grants us the advantages of a moralexistence. What we surrender of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-j-kaplan/by-directing-our-sentiments-passions-and-reason-toward-the-common/)

[Louise J. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-j-kaplan/)

> [Reason is God's gift, but so are the passions. Reason is as guilty as passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/reason-is-god-s-gift-but-so-are-the-passions-reason-is-as-guilty-as/)

[John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/)

> [The man who is master of his passions is Reason's slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/the-man-who-is-master-of-his-passions-is-reason-s-slave/)

[Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/)

> [Man is an Animal, formidable both from his Passions and his Reason; his Passions often urging him to great Evils, and his Reason furnishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/man-is-an-animal-formidable-both-from-his-passions-and-his-reason-his/)

[George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/)

> [“It is by the activity of our passions, that our reason improves: we covet knowledge merely because we covet enjoyment, and it is impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/it-is-by-the-activity-of-our-passions-that-our-reason-improves-we/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/in-the-compound-republic-of-america-the-power-surrendered-by-the-2/)

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

> [Taste cannot be controlled by law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/taste-cannot-be-controlled-by-law/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The reason we have to regulate . . . church schools is that . . . children that are not trained in state-controlled schools will not fit in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoagland/the-reason-we-have-to-regulate-church-schools-is-that-children-that/)

Peter Hoagland

> [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/)

[Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/)

## 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 Controlled quotes

> [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/)

[Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/)

> [The reason we have to regulate . . . church schools is that . . . children that are not trained in state-controlled schools will not fit in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoagland/the-reason-we-have-to-regulate-church-schools-is-that-children-that/)

Peter Hoagland

> [Taste cannot be controlled by law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/taste-cannot-be-controlled-by-law/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Mr Bush, Mr. Blair and now Mr Brown's sense of human rights precludes our people's right to their God-given resources, which in their view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/mr-bush-mr-blair-and-now-mr-brown-s-sense-of-human-rights-precludes/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [News events cannot be controlled, nor can newscasts be mapped out like entertainment shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-savitch/news-events-cannot-be-controlled-nor-can-newscasts-be-mapped-out-like/)

[Jessica Savitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-savitch/)

> [If any remedy is tested under controlled scientific conditions and proved to be effective, it will cease to be alternative and will simply become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/if-any-remedy-is-tested-under-controlled-scientific-conditions-and/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/)

[Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/)

> [The economy in Gaza is declining because Gaza is controlled by a terror regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/the-economy-in-gaza-is-declining-because-gaza-is-controlled-by-a/)

[Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/)

> [“Don’t be controlled by the tradition of men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/don-t-be-controlled-by-the-tradition-of-men/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [You say I changed but no I just stopped listening to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-say-i-changed-but-no-i-just-stopped-listening-to-you/)

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

> [The only big ideas I've ever had came from daydreaming, but modern life keeps people from daydreaming. Every moment of the day your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-only-big-ideas-i-ve-ever-had-came-from-daydreaming-but-modern/)

[Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/)

> [In working class districts, you had several families living together in the one house, and it was very difficult to get a house, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-working-class-districts-you-had-several-families-living-together/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [I and others of my sex find ourselves controlled by a form of government in the inauguration of which we had no voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-woodhull/i-and-others-of-my-sex-find-ourselves-controlled-by-a-form-of/)

[Victoria Woodhull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-woodhull/)

> [The gifts that Yeshua left in the earth realm to enforce His authority were apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. The gift that gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-pierce/the-gifts-that-yeshua-left-in-the-earth-realm-to-enforce-his/)

[Chuck Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-pierce/)

> [“All things in the world of Nature are not controlled by Fate for the soul has a principle of its own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iamblichus/all-things-in-the-world-of-nature-are-not-controlled-by-fate-for-the/)

[Iamblichus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iamblichus/)

Browse all 943 Controlled quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controlled and regulated by the government.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Madison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of-the-public-would-sit-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Controlled"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of-the-public-would-sit-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/james-madison-373_controlled_the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of_1841358.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone…” — 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": "The passions, therefore, not the reason,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of-the-public-would-sit-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-passions-therefore-not-the-reason-of-the-public-would-sit-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```