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

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly...

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly...

The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores...

The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores...

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of...

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of...

Learned institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light...

Learned institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light...

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...

The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.

The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.

The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of...

The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of...

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to...

Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to...

Commercial shackles are generally unjust, oppressive, and impolitic.

Commercial shackles are generally unjust, oppressive, and impolitic.

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is...

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is...

No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse, and in...

I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse, and in...

Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to...

Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to...

A man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them.

A man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them.

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...

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other...

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other...

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...

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...

Philosophy is common sense with big words.

Philosophy is common sense with big words.