Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by James Madison

Quote by James Madison

Work

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

Composed by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, this collection of essays advocates for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, offering insights into the structure and function of the federal government. more

Author

James Madison
James Madison

James Madison, the 4th President of the United States, was born on March 16, 1751, and died on June 28, 1836. He was a key figure in drafting the U.S. Constitution and had a profound impact on the political system of the United States. more

You May Also Like

“The Spirit of Enterprise, which characterizes the commercial part of America, has left no occasion of displaying itself unimproved. It is not at all probable that this unbridled spirit would pay much respect to those regulations of trade by which particular States might endeavor to secure exclusive benefits to their own citizens.”

StatesMightAmericaSpiritLeftPayParticularCitizensBenefitsTradeSecureOccasionsEnterpriseEndeavorRegulationCommerceExclusive
Book:The Fœderalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favor of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Fœderal Convention, September 17, 1787. Reprinted from the Original Text. With an Historical Introduction and Notes
Create image

“There are still to be found visionary or designing men, who stand ready to advocate the paradox of perpetual peace between the states, though dismembered and alienated from each other.... The genius of republics, say they, is pacific; the spirit of commerce has a tendency to soften the manners of men, and to extinguish those inflammable humours which have so often kindled into wars. Commercial republics, like ours, will never be disposed to waste themselves in ruinous contentions with each other. They will be governed by mutual interest, and will cultivate a spirit of mutual amity and concord.”

MenStillsWarStatesSpiritFoundInterestDesignHumourReadyGeniusWasteTendenciesMannersMutualParadoxRepublicPerpetualCommercePacificContentionAmityMutual Interest
Author:Alexander Hamilton
Create image

“Passive commerce . . . should thus . . . [compel us] to content ourselves with the first price of our commodities, and to see the profits of our trade snatched from us, to enrich our enemies and persecutors. That unequalled spirit of enterprise . . . an inexhaustible mine of national wealth, would be stifled and lost; and poverty and disgrace would overspread a country, which, with wisdom, might make herself the admiration and envy of the world.”

WorldShouldFirstsCountryMightWould BeSpiritLostWealthEnemyPovertyMinesTradeProfitEnvyEnterpriseAdmirationCommercePassiveCommodityDisgraceE Commerce
Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution
Create image

“By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise, it serves to vivify and invigorate the channels of industry, and to make them flow with greater activity and copiousness. The assiduous merchant, the laborious husbandman, the active mechanic, and the industrious manufacturer,-all orders of men, look forward with eager expectation and growing alacrity to this pleasing reward of their toils.”

MenHumansLooksMeanOrderGreaterGrowingObjectsIndustryActivityExpectationsFlowRewardsActiveEnterpriseMetalsCommerceToilMechanicPromotingGratificationIntroductionDarlingAvariceMerchantsCirculationIndustriousMultiplyingPrecious MetalAlacrity
Book:The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution
Create image

“To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted. Even things in themselves not positively advantageous, sometimes become so, by their tendency to provoke exertion. Every new scene, which is opened to the busy nature of man to rouse and exert itself, is the addition of a new energy to the general stock of effort.”

MenMindHumansMaySometimesEnergyNationsWealthEffortObjectsSceneActivityBusyTendenciesEnterpriseCherishHuman MindCommerceProvokingPositivelyExertionNature Of ManMultiplyingNew Energy
Book:Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, on the Subject of Manufactures: Presented to the House of Representatives, December 5, 1791
Create image

“The inducements of interest for observing [neutral] conduct . . . has been to endeavour to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption, to that degree of strength and consistency, which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.”

GivingHas BeensCountryInterestProgressDegreesGainsInstitutionsFortuneCommandOur CountrySettlingMatureCommerceConsistencyObservingEndeavourInterruptionsFarewell Address
Book:The Complete Works of George Washington: Military Journals, Rules of Civility, Writings on French and Indian War, Presidential Work, Inaugural Addresses, Messages to Congress, Letters & Biography
Create image

“Manufacturing establishments not only occasion a positive augmentation of the produce and revenue of the society . . . they contribute essentially to rendering them greater than they could possibly be, without such establishments. These circumstances are . . . greater scope for the diversity of talents and dispositions which discriminate men from each other.”

MenGreaterTalentProduceCircumstancesDiversityOccasionsEstablishmentCommerceDispositionRevenueScopeManufacturingRendering
Book:Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, on the Subject of Manufactures: Presented to the House of Representatives, December 5, 1791
Create image

“The dustbin of history is littered with remains of those countries that relied on diplomacy to secure their freedom. We must never forget . . . in the final analysis . . . that it is our military, industrial and economic strength that offers the best guarantee of peace for America in times of danger.”

CountryAmericaForgetEconomicMilitaryDangerOffersRemainsFinalsSecureAnalysisGuaranteesNever ForgetCommerceDiplomacyDustbin
Book:The quotable Ronald Reagan: the common sense and straight talk of former California Governor, Ronald Reagan
Create image

“Constructive trade, the two-way exchange of goods and services, is the most efficient and logical way for each nation . . . to build a stable prosperity, a prosperity based not on aid, but on mutually beneficial economic contacts.”

WayTwoNationsEconomicTradeProsperityAidsContactLogicalGoodsEfficientStableCommerceBeneficialConstructiveTwo WaysGoods And Services
Book:The quotable Ronald Reagan: the common sense and straight talk of former California Governor, Ronald Reagan
Create image