Assuming Quote by Stephen Holmes
“In Madison's famous formulation in the Federalist, constitutional restrictions on government assume that we "first enable the government to control the governed." If the public authorities can be outgunned or bribed, the vibrancy of the private sector can be pathological.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Federalist Papers, James Madison, 1788
Government power must be balanced by a strong private sector, but corruption can invert that balance, making the private sphere harmful.
In simple terms: A strong private sector can become harmful if the government is corrupt.
Key Takeaway
Guard against corruption to keep private sector healthy.
Themes
politics
economics
ethics
governance
corruption
private sector
Mood
cautious
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
policy
critical
When to use this quote
- regulatory reform
- anti‑corruption measures
- public‑private partnerships
- civil society strengthening
Key Concepts
public choice theory
institutional design
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure government accountability?
- What safeguards protect the private sector from becoming pathological?
A Different Perspective
If the government is ineffective, private sector may fill gaps, creating new risks.
![“This election [in 2016] is about electing a president that will restore our economic vibrancy so that the American dream can expand to reach more people and change more lives than ever before. And rebuild our Military and our intelligence programs so that we can remain the strongest nation on earth.” quote by Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b19/marco-rubio-355_american-dream_this-election-in-2016-is-about-electing_1166252.jpg)
![“The house as I say ... smelled of brisket and bourbon, so you could hear that. I started imitating them. Phrases came out of that, "Can't you dig that?" "I knew that you would." We were at [Passover] Seders and they were confused with the bitter herbs, "Do we smoke these or do we do we dip them in…” quote by Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bdc/billy-crystal-6588_bitter_the-house-as-i-say-smelled-of-brisket-an_1060298.jpg)
