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James Madison

James Madison Quotes

4th U.S. President

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Famous James Madison Quotes

“The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.”

WarCausesLibertyCasesLibertarianExecutivesAnti WarAntiwarPeace WarGreat WarNo WarForefathersDeclaringMake Peace Not WarPeace Not WarGreat LibertarianTyranny Founding FathersDeclaring War
Book:The Federalist, on the new constitution, written in 1788, 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
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“The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the state.”

PeopleHas BeensStatesReligionChurchNumbersLibertyAtheismIndustryMoralitySeparationDevotionFirst AmendmentChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StatePriesthoodUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateReligious LibertyFounding Fathers Anti ReligionReligion And Government
Book:The Writings of James Madison: 1808-1819
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“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”

MenFirstsGovernmentNextLibertyPowerLibertarianLibertarianismFederal GovernmentFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyLimited GovernmentForefathersBearing ArmsSelf-governmentAmerican GovernmentFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersLimited FreedomFramingSeparation Of PowersLiberty And JusticeLimiting FreedomGovernment And SocietyControlling GovernmentGovernment LiesNoblesse Oblige
Author:James Madison
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“What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

IfsMenHumansGovernmentWould BeNatureLibertyHuman NatureReflectionAngelInternalsPatrioticFederal GovernmentFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyDemocracies HaveFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersNatural RightsSeparation Of PowersEternal VigilanceLiberty And JusticeGovernment And SocietyControlling Government
Author:James Madison
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“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. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce. ... The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives and liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the State.”

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Author:James Madison
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“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

PeopleWellsStatesLibertySecurityArmsBearsGunConstitutionLibertarianAmendmentsGun ControlFreedom And LibertySecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyFirearmsBill Of RightsRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsGun RightsConstitution Of The United StatesPro GunLibertarian PartyFounding Fathers GunHandguns2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentGun OwnersAmendment 1Unalienable RightsAssault WeaponsGun SafetyAmending The ConstitutionFree StateAmendment 19Amendment 4Pro Gun ControlAmendment 13Handgun BanGreat ConservativeGun BanFifth AmendmentGun CultureArmed Citizens
Book:The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787: Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America
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“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”

GovernmentPoliticsLibertyObjectsTaxesConstitutionLaysFingersCongressLibertarianGrantedWelfareArticlesFederal GovernmentEntitlementBenevolenceFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyProperty RightsLimited GovernmentConstituentsFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersGovernment SpendingLimited FreedomUs ConstitutionTax DayLimiting FreedomConstitutional Government
Author:James Madison
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“Democracies have been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their death.”

Has BeensFoundFreedomLibertyDemocracyRightsSecurityPropertyLibertarianViolentTyrannyFoundersFederal GovernmentSovereigntyFoundingFreedom And LibertyForms Of GovernmentFreedom LibertyPrivate PropertyProperty RightsLimited GovernmentDemocracies HaveFactionsContentionForefathersIndividual RightsFederalistLimiting GovernmentSpectaclesFederalist PapersTurbulenceLimited FreedomFounding Fathers DemocracyLimiting FreedomPersonal LibertyUnalienable RightsElectoral CollegeMajority RulePolitical RightsTyranny Founding FathersDemocracy In AmericaViolent DeathSecurity And FreedomPersonal SecuritySecurity And LibertyPersonal Rights
Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“If there be a principle that ought not to be questioned within the United States, it is that every man has a right to abolish an old government and establish a new one. This principle is not only recorded in every public archive, written in every American heart, and sealed with the blood of American martyrs, but is the only lawful tenure by which the United States hold their existence as a nation.”

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Book:The forging of American federalism: selected writings of James Madison
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“It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizens and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution. The freemen of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise and entangled the question in precedents. They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided the consequences by denying the principle. We revere this lesson too much ... to forget it”

FirstsAmericaPoliticsWaitingForgetLibertyPrinciplesSawsToo MuchDutyRevolutionCitizensExerciseLessonsLateConsequenceExperimentsCharacteristicsForget ItAvoidedAlarmsFreedom And LibertyIntriguingFreedom LibertyPrudentPrecedentFreemanLiberty And Justice
Book:Writings
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“Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence, and ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption; all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects.”

ReligiousLibertyIgnoranceProjectsUnionsCorruptionSentimentsEstablishmentSurprisingExecutionSeparation Of Church And StateBegetsFacilitateFounding Fathers ReligiousReligious LibertyMischievousChristian RightReligious Truth
Book:Selected Writings of James Madison
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“The experience of the United States is a happy disproof of the error so long rooted in the unenlightened minds of well meaning Christians, as well as in the corrupt hearts of persecuting Usurpers, that without a legal incorporation of religious and civil polity, neither could be supported. A mutual independence is found most friendly to practical Religion, to social harmony, and to political prosperity.”

MindWellsHeartLongStatesChristianPoliticalReligionFoundSocialReligiousUnitedLibertyUnited StatesMoralityHarmonyIndependenceErrorsProsperityPracticalsFriendlyMutualRootedReligious LibertyUsurpersIncorporationSocial Harmony
Book:The forging of American federalism: selected writings of James Madison
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“The civil rights of none, shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed.”

BeliefReligiousLibertyRightsEqualWorshipConscienceAccountsCivil RightsEqual RightsReligious BeliefBill Of RightsPretextReligion And GovernmentFirst Amendment RightsReligious Rights
Book:Selected Writings of James Madison
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“[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

StatesReligionReligiousUnitedLibertyUnited StatesOfficeTestsConstitutionAtheistSeparationFoundersSecularChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateOur Founding FathersQualificationsAtheisticFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateFounding Fathers ReligiousReligion GodReligious LibertyConstitution Of The United StatesFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistAnti ReligiousDeismChristianity From Founding FathersChristian AtheistReligion ChristianChristian FatherReligion And GovernmentAnti ChristianChristian RightKgbPublic TrustAge Of ReasonFaith ReligionAnti AtheistChristianity And Government
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
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“The aim of every political Constitution, is or ought to be first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.”

MenFirstsPoliticalNextPoliticsCommonLibertyVirtueTrustOughtConstitutionAimPursueVirtuousRulersCommon GoodPrecautionPublic Trust
Book:The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus
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“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few... No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

InspirationalWarNationsParentKnownLibertyEnemyTaxesArmyInstrumentsDebtLibertarianPreservesMidstAnti WarAntiwarLibertarianismWarfareDominationFreedom LibertyGermsNo WarFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersPublic EnemiesDebt By Founding Fathers
Author:James Madison
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“With respect to the words "general welfare," I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.”

CharacterGovernmentWould BeLibertyConstitutionDetailsCreatorConnectedLibertarianProofWelfareHostFoundersFederal GovernmentUnlimitedQualifiedFreedom And LibertyLiteralFreedom LibertyProperty RightsLimited GovernmentMetamorphosisFederalistLimiting GovernmentConstitution Of The United StatesFederalist PapersLimited FreedomUs ConstitutionGeneral WelfareLimiting FreedomConstitutional GovernmentStates RightsTyranny Founding FathersPower Government
Author:James Madison
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