Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by James Madison

Quote by James Madison

“[T]he bill exceeds the rightful authority to which governments are limited by the essential distinction between civil and religious functions, and violates in particular the article of the Constitution of the United States which declares that Congress shall make no law respecting a religious establishment.... This particular church, therefore, would so far be a religious establishment by law, a legal force and sanction being given to certain articles in its constitution and administration.”

Quote by James Madison

Create image

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

“Because the bill vests in the said incorporated church an authority to provide for the support of the poor and the education of poor children of the same, an authority which, being altogether superfluous if the provision is to be the result of pious charity, would be a precedent for giving to religious societies as such a legal agency in carrying into effect a public and civil duty.”

IfsGivingChildrenSaidWould BeChurchReligiousPoorResultsSupportAtheismEffectsDutyAuthorityBillsCharityPositive AtheismAgencyProvisionPiousSuperfluousPrecedentVestsPoor Children
Book:Selected Writings of James Madison
Create image

“And may I not be allowed to ... read in the character of the American people, in their devotion to true liberty and to the Constitution which is its palladium [protection], ... a Government which watches over ... the equal interdict [prohibition] against encroachments and compacts between religion and the state.”

PeopleMayStatesCharacterGovernmentLibertyWatchesAtheismEqualConstitutionPositive AtheismProtectionDevotionProhibitionEncroachment
Author:James Madison
Create image

“I have received your letter of the 6th, with the eloquent discourse delivered at the consecration of the Jewish Synagogue. Having ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions and worship as equally belonging to every sect, and the secure enjoyment of it as the best human provision for bringing all either into the same way of thinking, or into that mutual charity which is the only substitute, I observe with pleasure the view you give of the spirit in which your sect partake of the blessings offered by our Government and laws.”

ThinkingWayGivingHumansGovernmentLawSpiritReligiousPleasureViewsOpinionAtheismBlessingWorshipLettersCharityPositive AtheismSecureEnjoymentMutualBelongingSubstitutesDiscourseWay Of ThinkingProvisionEloquentSectsSynagogueConsecration
Book:1816-1828
Create image

“The notion that science does not concern itself with first causes - that it leaves the field to theology or metaphysics, and confines itself to mere effects - this notion has no support in the plain facts. If it could, science would explain the origin of life on earth at once - and there is every reason to believe that it will do so on some not too remote tomorrow. To argue that gaps in knowledge which will confront the seeker must be filled, not by patient inquiry, but by intuition or revelation, is simply to give ignorance a gratuitous and preposterous dignity.”

IfsGivingFirstsBelieveDoeReasonFactsEarthCausesSupportAtheismEffectsFieldsIgnoranceTomorrowConcernDignityFilledMereNotionPatientIntuitionPositive AtheismArguingTheologyRevelationsGapsMetaphysicsInquirySeekersOrigin Of Life
Author:H. L. Mencken
Create image