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Quote by James Madison

“[I]t is the reason alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government.”

Quote by James Madison

Book:The federalist papers

Work

The federalist papers

Comprising a series of 85 essays, The Federalist Papers were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. These essays were published in newspapers in New York from 1787 to 1788, aiming to persuade the public to support the ratification of the Constitution. The works are considered foundational texts in American political theory and constitutional law. more

Author

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

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“This Government, the offspring of your own choice, uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support.”

Government Choices Energy Principles Support Security Claims Mature Amendments Investigation Adopted Distribution Provision Offspring Containing Deliberation Uniting

Book:The Patriot's Monitor: Or, Speeches and Addresses of the Late George Washington

Source: The Patriot's Monitor: Or, Speeches and Addresses of the Late George Washington

“The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.”

People Ideas Government Individual Duty Farewell Address

Book:Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States

Source: Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States

“It is in vain to hope to guard against events too mighty for human foresight or precaution, and it would be idle to object to a government because it could not perform impossibilities.”

Humans Government Would Be Events Objects Vain Idle Impossibility Foresight Precaution

Book:The federalist papers

Source: The federalist papers

“[I]n framing a Government for a nation we ought, in those provisions which are designed to be permanent, to calculate not on temporary, but on permanent causes of expence.”

Government Nations Causes Ought Permanent Temporary Provision Framing

Book:The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States

Source: The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States

“We are too solicitous for government intervention, on the theory, first, that the people themselves are helpless, and second, that the Government has superior capacity for action. Often times both of these conclusions are wrong.”

People Firsts Government Action Theory Capacity Superiors Conclusion Helpless Intervention Government Intervention

Author:Calvin Coolidge

“The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is scarcely a scare-crow) working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped from the States, and the government of all be consolidated into one.”

“One insidious practice which sugar-coats the dose of Federal intrusion is the division of expense . . .”

Government Practice Expenses Division Sugar Coats Dose Insidious Intrusion

Author:Calvin Coolidge

“The most that the Convention could do in such a situation, was to avoid the errors suggested by the past experience of other countries, as well as of our own; and to provide a convenient mode of rectifying their own errors, as future experience may unfold them.”

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

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

“Billy Jean King could not get credit when her husband was in law school and she was winning the Wimbledon, because he had to sign the cards. You know, you had these cases in the '70s of women who were mayors who couldn't get credit unless their husbands signed for them.”

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Author:Gail Collins

“We may be assured by past experience, that such a practice [as some states charging high taxes on goods from other states] would be introduced by future contrivances; and both by that and a common knowledge of human affairs, that it would nourish unceasing animosities, and not improbably terminate in serious interruptions of the public tranquility.”

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Author:James Madison