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.

Quote by James Madison

Topics: James Madison Quotes

The rights of man as the foundation of just Government had been long understood; but...

The rights of man as the foundation of just Government had been long understood; but...

The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.

The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.

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...

Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and...

Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and...

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

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

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...

Philosophy is common sense with big words.

Philosophy is common sense with big words.

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...

The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the...

The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the...

As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be...

As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be...

War contains so much folly, as well as wickedness, that much is to be hoped...

War contains so much folly, as well as wickedness, that much is to be hoped...

A good government implies two things: fidelity to the object of government, which is the...

A good government implies two things: fidelity to the object of government, which is the...

A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.

A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.

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

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

Government destitute of energy, will ever produce anarchy.

Government destitute of energy, will ever produce anarchy.

Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every...

Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every...

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,...

Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence.

Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence.

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...

The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the...

The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the...