James Madison Quotes

Source: The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution

“I acknowledge, in the ordinary course of government, that the exposition of the laws and Constitution devolves upon the judicial. But I beg to know upon what principle it can be contended that any one department draws from the Constitution greater powers than another in marking out the limits of the powers of the several departments.”

Knows Government Law Courses Principles Greater Limits Draws Ordinary Constitution Separation Acknowledge Department Judicial Separation Of Powers Greater Power

Book:Selected Writings of James Madison

Source: Selected Writings of James Madison

“[I]n the next place, to show that unless these departments be so far connected and blended as to give to each a constitutional control over the others, the degree of separation which the maxim requires, as essential to a free government, can never in practice be duly maintained.”

Giving Shows Government Next Practice Essentials Degrees Connected Separation Department Maxims Free Government Separation Of Powers

Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788

Source: The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788

“[T]he great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachment of the others.”

Giving Mean Security Separation Motive Department Concentration Federalist Federalist Papers Encroachment Separation Of Powers

Author:James Madison

“A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

People Government Doubt Mankind Taught Separation Primaries No Doubt Dependence Freedom And Liberty Freedom Liberty Self-government Federalist Precaution Federalist Papers Separation Of Powers Controlling Government

Book:Selected Writings of James Madison

Source: Selected Writings of James Madison

“To what expedient then shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government, as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.”

Source: The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788

“As the war was just in its origin and necessary and noble in its objects, we can reflect with a proud satisfaction that in carrying it on no principle of justice or honor, no usage of civilized nations, no precept of courtesy or humanity, have been infringed.”

Has Beens War Humanity Nations Justice Principles Objects Proud Honor Satisfaction Noble Civilized Courtesy Usage Civilized Nations

Book:The Papers of James Madison: 8 February-24 October 1813

Source: The Papers of James Madison: 8 February-24 October 1813

“The safety and happiness of society are the objects at which all political institutions aim, and to which all such institutions must be sacrificed.”

Happiness Political Objects Aim Safety Institutions Political Institutions

Book:The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus

Source: The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus

“Procrastination in the beginning and precipitation towards the conclusion is the characteristic of such bodies.”

Body Conclusion Characteristics Procrastination

Author:James Madison

“The danger of silent accumulations & encroachments by Ecclesiastical Bodies have not sufficiently engaged attention in the U.S. [...] Besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government, there is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by ecclesiastical Corporations. [...] The establishment of the chaplainship to Congs. is a palpable violation of equal rights, as well as of Constitutional principles.”

“All power in human hands is liable to be abused.”

Humans Hands Presidential Liable Human Hands

Book:James Madison's

Source: James Madison's

“Every word of [the Constitution] decides a question between power and liberty.”

Liberty

Author:James Madison

“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.”

Real Government Lying Danger Oppression Property Rights Federalist Federalist Papers Real Power Government Lies

Book:Selected Writings of James Madison

Source: Selected Writings of James Madison

“It is very certain that [the commerce clause] grew out of the abuse of the power by the importing States in taxing the non-importing, and was intended as a negative and preventive provision against injustice among the States themselves, rather than as a power to be used for the positive purposes of the General Government.”

States Government Used Purpose Certain Grew Negative Abuse Injustice Commerce Provision Clauses E Commerce

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 are numerous and indefinite.”

Source: The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788

“Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.... Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”

Source: The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788

“It is not certain that with this aid alone [possession of arms], they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to posses the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will, and direct the national force; and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned, in spite of the legions which surround it.”

“The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.”

States Government Politics United United States Objects Duty Charity Definite Confined Property Rights Limited Government State Government Us Constitution Legislative Branch

Book:The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution

Source: The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution

“Place three individuals in a situation wherein the interest of each depends on the voice of the others, and give to two of them an interest opposed to the rights of the third. Will the latter be secure? The prudence of every man would shun the danger. The rules & forms of justice suppose & guard against it. Will two thousand in a like situation be less likely to encroach on the rights of one thousand?”

Men Giving Two Form Three Individual Voice Interest Justice Situation Rights Danger Depends Thousand Thirds Every Man Secure Latter Prudence

Book:Selected Writings of James Madison

Source: Selected Writings of James Madison

“It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.”

Christian Practice Duty Charity Mutual Founding Fathers Christian Founding Fathers Religious Religious Liberty Forbearance

Book:1769-1793

Source: 1769-1793

“The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.”

Heart States Advice My Heart Unions Conviction

Book:James Madison's

Source: James Madison's

“Because we hold it for 'a fundamental and undeniable truth', that religion or 'the duty which we owe to our Creator' and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.”

Source: The Writings of James Madison: 1783-1787

“Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.”

Ifs Men Matter Universe Subjects Members Universal Institutions Saving Sovereign Allegiance Civil Society

Book:A memorial and remonstrance, on the religious rights of man; written in 1784-5, at the request of the religious society of Baptists in Virginia. ...

Source: A memorial and remonstrance, on the religious rights of man; written in 1784-5, at the request of the religious society of Baptists in Virginia. ...

“The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion.”

Would Be Names Holy Proof Discussion Reverence Topics Profane

Author:James Madison

“The Constitution of the U.S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion.”

Constitution Separation Establishment Separation Of Church And State Founding Fathers Christian Founding Fathers Religion Founding Fathers Religious Chaplains

Author:James Madison

“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.”

Political Politics Enlightened Statesmen Federalist Federalist Papers Helm Limiting Freedom

Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788, by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Madison, and Mr. Jay: with an Appendix, Containing the Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius, on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793; Also, the Original Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States, with the Amendments Made Thereto

Source: The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788, by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Madison, and Mr. Jay: with an Appendix, Containing the Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius, on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793; Also, the Original Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States, with the Amendments Made Thereto

“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.”

Has Beens Ends Government Politics Lost Justice Liberty Pursuit Voting Pursued Forms Of Government Civil Society Federalist Federalist Papers Tyranny Of The Majority Pursuit Of Justice

Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788

Source: The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788

“The eyes of the world being thus on our Country, it is put the more on its good behavior, and under the greater obligation also, to do justice to the Tree of Liberty by an exhibition of the fine fruits we gather from it.”

World Country Eye Justice Liberty Greater Tree Fine Behavior Fruit Obligation Our Country Patriotism Exhibitions Good Behavior

Book:1816-1828

Source: 1816-1828

“I entirely concur in the propriety of resorting to the sense in which the Constitution was accepted and ratified by the nation. In that sense alone it is the legitimate Constitution. And if that is not the guide in expounding it, there may be no security.”

Ifs May Nations Security Constitution Guides Accepted Propriety Concur

Book:James Madison's

Source: James Madison's

“The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising armies.... A delegation of such powers [to the President] would have struck, not only at the fabric of our Constitution, but at the foundation of all well organized and well checked governments. The separation of the power of declaring war from that of conducting it, is wisely contrived to exclude the danger of its being declared for the sake of its being conducted.”

Wells War States Government President Danger Constitution Army Foundation Sake Separation Organized Fabric Legislature Conducting Declaring Vests Delegation Declaring War

Author:James Madison

“I consider it…as subverting the fundamental and characteristic principle of the Government…and as bidding defiance to the sense in which the Constitution is known to have been proposed, advocated, and adopted. If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one.”

Ifs Has Beens Done Government Can Do Known Principles Constitution Fundamentals Congress Welfare Characteristics Adopted Defiance Discretion Bidding General Welfare

Book:1769-1793

Source: 1769-1793

“I do not conceive that power is given to the President and Senate to dismember the empire, or to alienate any great, essential right. I do not think the whole legislative authority have this power. The exercise of the power must be consistent with the object of the delegation.”

Thinking Whole Given President Objects Exercise Essentials Authority Consistent Empires Senate Delegation

Book:The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution

Source: The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution

“The great objects which presented themselves [to the Constitutional Convention] ... formed a task more difficult than can be well conceived by those who were not concerned in the execution of it. Adding to these considerations the natural diversity of human opinions on all new and complicated subjects, it is impossible to consider the degree of concord which ultimately prevailed as less than a miracle.”