A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.

Quote by James Madison

Topics: Government Quotes

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human...

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human...

The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when...

The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when...

There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be misapplied, and...

There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be misapplied, and...

Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild...

Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild...

Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man...

Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man...

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of...

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of...

What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch of commerce when he...

What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch of commerce when he...

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is...

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is...

And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one...

And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one...

The nation which reposes on the pillow of political confidence, will sooner or later end...

The nation which reposes on the pillow of political confidence, will sooner or later end...

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted...

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted...

War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures...

War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures...

In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of...

In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of...

Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free...

Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free...

The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment,...

The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment,...

Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.

Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.

Strongly guarded as is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the...

Strongly guarded as is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the...

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must...

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must...

In no instance have... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.

In no instance have... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.

Any reading not of a vicious species must be a good substitute for the amusements...

Any reading not of a vicious species must be a good substitute for the amusements...