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Federalist Quotes

“I'm talking of the idea, basically very widespread in America, that the less government the better, which is obviously being used to the advantage of the big corporations, but none-the-less has very radical implications. The idea of a people that exercises a great deal of federalist or confederalist control, the ideal of a grass-roots type of democracy, the idea of the freedom of the individual which is not to get lost in the mazes of anarcho-egotism à la Stirner, or for that matter right-wing libertarianism.”

PeopleIdeasMatterBigsGovernmentAmericaUsedIndividualLostDealsTalkingDemocracyTypeExerciseAdvantageIdealsRootsWingsRadicalCorporationsGrassLibertarianismEgotismImplicationsRight WingMazesFederalistBig Corporations
Author:Murray Bookchin
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“The people that say diversity is the reason for the greatness are purposely assaulting the United States as founded. They want you to believe that America was only great for a few people as founded, because, as founded, America was gigantically discriminating against the poor and against people of color and against transgenders. Yeah, I've read the Federalist Papers, you know. James Madison, he wasn't popular with the transgender group back then. Did you know that? You won't find the word. It was not a factor, the way they have attempted to modernize things here today. It's just lies.”

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Author:Rush Limbaugh
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“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

PeopleGivingMeanWisdomGovernmentPoliticalFreedomEducationLibertyKnowledgeForeverInformationIgnoranceArmsPresidentialPatrioticGovernorsFreedom Of SpeechFederal GovernmentSecrecyFreedom And LibertyCivicsFreedom Of ThoughtFreedom LibertyPeace WarTotal WarFreedom Of The PressFederalistFarceFederalist PapersRevolutionary WarKnowledge EducationEducation And KnowledgeFounding Fathers DemocracyKnowledge And PowerKnowledge And IgnoranceAmending The ConstitutionFreedom To ReadEducation And FreedomPower Of KnowledgeLiberty Of Speech
Author:James Madison
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“It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.”

PeopleIfsMenLittlesMadeGovernmentLawChoicesLibertyCitizensUnderstoodLibertarianPatrioticSovereigntyGoverningFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyProperty RightsLimited GovernmentForefathersAmerican GovernmentFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersEconomic FreedomLimited FreedomLiberty And JusticeLimiting FreedomAmerican FreedomConstitutional LawConstitutional GovernmentGovernment And PoliticsGovernment PoliticsVoting Founding FathersAmerican LawLaws And GovernmentLaw Making
Author:James Madison
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“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

WarPoliticalNationsFreedomLibertyLibertarianTyrannyPreservesMidstAnti WarAntiwarWarfareFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyLimited GovernmentDemocracies HaveGreat WarNo WarForefathersFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersLimited FreedomGreat LibertarianDemocracy FreedomLimiting FreedomAmerican FreedomTyranny Founding FathersPublic EnemiesAnti War MovementPerpetual War
Book:Selected Writings of James Madison
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“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

WarRealHomeFreedomLossLibertyDangerUniversalLibertarianPatrioticAnti WarAntiwarProvisionFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyPeace WarLimited GovernmentPolitical PowerDemocracies HaveGreat WarForefathersFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersReal PowerLimited FreedomUniversal TruthGreat LibertarianLimiting FreedomAgainst WarTyranny Founding Fathers
Book:James Madison's
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“Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.”

WarFearLibertyEnemyLibertarianTyrannyAnti WarAntiwarFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyGermsForefathersFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersGreat LibertarianTyranny Founding FathersPublic EnemiesDebt By Founding FathersPerpetual War
Book:Selected Writings of James Madison
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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.”

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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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“It has been frequently remarked, that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country to decide, by their conduct and example, the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident and force.”

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Book:The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Comprising His Most Important Official Reports: An Improved Edition of the Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788; and Pacificus, on the Proclamation of Neutrality, Written in 1793 ...
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“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. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

PeopleIfsMenFirstsGovernmentWould BeLyingNextPoliticsDoubtMankindTaughtAngelDifficultyPrimariesNo DoubtInternalsDependenceFederal GovernmentBearing ArmsFederalistPrecautionFederalist PapersFramingGovernment And SocietyControlling Government
Book:The Origin of the Nation: Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and Other Amendments, Federalist Papers & Common Sense: Creating America - Landmark Documents that Shaped a New Nation
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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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“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”

MayHandsGovernmentPoliticalPoliticsDefinitionsTyrannyExecutivesFoundersFoundingAccumulationLimited GovernmentJudiciaryFederalistLimiting GovernmentHereditaryFederalist PapersSeparation Of PowersExecutive PowerTyranny Founding FathersPower GovernmentEqual PowerIndependent Judiciary
Author:James Madison
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“The means of defence against foreign danger have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.”

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Book:The Writings of James Madison: 1787. The journal of the Constitutional convention
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“Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.... During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.”

MindHas BeensReligionReligiousChristianityAtheismCenturyIgnorancePrideConstitutionFruitAtheistNobleTrialsEnterpriseBigotryEstablishmentSuperstitionsFifteenSecularPersecutionFoundingBondageChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateOur Founding FathersFounding Fathers ChristianPhilosophy Of ReligionUs Founding FathersClergyIndolenceFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateShacklesFounding Fathers ReligiousReligion GodFederalistFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaFederalist PapersAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistReligious PhilosophyDeismChristianity From Founding FathersReligion And PoliticsChristian AtheistReligion ChristianPhilosophy And ReligionReligion And GovernmentFaith ReligionServilityReligious PersecutionReligious BigotryChristianity And GovernmentChristian Persecution
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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“What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”

PeopleIfsCountryGovernmentSpiritPoliticsFreedomLibertyArmsGunConstitutionResistancePreservesPatriotismAmendmentsRulersFoundersPatriotGun ControlFoundingFreedom And LibertySecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyProperty RightsDeclaration Of IndependenceFirearmsRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsIndividual LibertyGun RightsFederalistFree GovernmentPublic InterestRights And FreedomsPro GunFounding Fathers Gun2 AmendmentUs ConstitutionEternal VigilanceFounding Fathers Second AmendmentAmerican LibertyFramersLiberty And JusticeSocial RevolutionLethargyDisarmingPrice Of FreedomRevolution Founding FathersAmendment 1Government And SocietyStrong ArmsAmendment 19Amendment 4Amendment 13Voting Founding FathersDivided GovernmentLiberty Tree
Author:Thomas Jefferson
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“The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of Government. But what is Government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?”

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Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.”

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Book:The writings of Thomas Jefferson
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“In a free government, the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other in the multiplicity of sects.”

GovernmentInterestReligiousCasesRightsSecurityPositive AtheismCivil RightsSectsMultiplicityFederalistFree GovernmentFederalist PapersReligious Rights
Book:The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788
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“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, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one.”

IfsDoneGovernmentCan DoConstitutionCongressSocialismWelfareFederal GovernmentLegislatureDiscretionPossessingProperty RightsLimited GovernmentFederalistLimiting GovernmentFederalist PapersUs ConstitutionGeneral Welfare
Book:James Madison's
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“[V]igor of government is essential to the security of liberty.”

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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
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“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among general bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.”

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Author:Thomas Jefferson
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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.”

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Author:James Madison
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“A zeal for different opinions concerning religion...[has] divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good.”

DifferentReligionPartyCommonOpinionAtheismMankindMutualDividedZealCommon GoodAnimosityFederalistFederalist PapersDifferent OpinionsVex
Book:The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States
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“The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”

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Author:Alexander Hamilton
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“...that standing army can never be formidable (threatening) to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in the use of arms.”

PeopleIfsLittlesUseBodyLawLibertyArmsBearsCitizensGunStandingArmyAmendmentsInferiorsGun ControlThreateningFreedom And LibertySecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyFirearmsFormidableRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsGun RightsFederalistFederalist PapersFounding Fathers GunHandguns2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentAnti GunAmendment 1Amending The ConstitutionAmendment 19Amendment 4Threats To Liberty
Author:Alexander Hamilton
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“As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other, and the former will be objects to which the latter attach themselves.”

MenLongDifferentSelfReasonPassionLibertyOpinionInfluenceHuman NatureObjectsSelf LoveExerciseConnectionsFormerLatterFederalistReciprocalFederalist PapersDifferent Opinions
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
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