James Madison was the fourth president of the United States of America.
James Madison, who is also known as the 'Father of Constitution', played a significant hand in framing the U.S. Constitution. His eloquent speeches at the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, later published as Federalist papers, give us invaluable insight into the logic behind the Constitution.
Madison also framed the 'Bill Of Rights'. He believed in the power of a well-balanced government, where departments wouldn't interfere in each other's roles. He had immense knowledge about legislative duty and different democracies, and most of his sayings are relevant even today. Read this article to discover famous James Madison quotes on democracy, education, and freedom.
James Madison Quotes About Democracy
These James Madison quotes often clip up in the modern time to describe the various facets of democracy.
"Democracy is the most vile form of government."
"A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here, we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven."
- Letter to William Bradford, November 9, 1772.
"It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it the finger of that Almighty Hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the Revolution."
- 'The Federalist', 1818.
"Another of my wishes is to depend as little as possible on the labor of slaves."
- Letter to Edmund Randolph, September 8, 1783.
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person."
"Should an unwarrantable measure of the federal government be unpopular in particular States, which would seldom fail to be the case, or even a warrantable measure be so, which may sometimes be the case, the means of opposition to it are powerful and at hand."
"Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression."
- Letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1788.
"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 the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
- 'Memorial And Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments', 1785.
"But what is Government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?"
"Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
"Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
"Government is the mere instrument of the major numberof the constituents."
"The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security."
James Madison Quotes About Education
James Madison was not only a fierce politician but also a great educator. Read these quotes to understand his take on education.
"Where slavery exists, the republican theory becomes still more fallacious."
- 'Vices Of The Political System Of The United States', 1787.
"The accumulation of all powers, Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."
- 'The Federalist', 1788.
“Philosophy is common sense with big words.”
"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."
"Attempts to enforce by legal sanctions, acts obnoxious to so great a proportion of Citizens, tend to enervate the laws in general, and to slacken the bands of Society."
- 'Memorial And Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments', 1785.
"The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
"Learned institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people."
"Every new & successful example therefore of a perfect separation between ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance."
- Letter to Edward Livingstone, July 10, 1822.
"Let me recommend the best medicine in the world a long journey at a mild season through a pleasant country in easy stages."
Famous James Madison Quotes
(James Madison was a prolific writer and has written numerous papers.)
Read the best and most famous James Madison quotes below.
“The advancement of science and the diffusion of information [is] the best aliment to true liberty.”
“History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it's issuance.”
"The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived."
- 'The Federalist', 1788.
"The man who is possessed of wealth, who lolls on his sofa or rolls in his carriage, cannot judge the wants or feelings of the day-laborer."
- 'Notes Of The Secret Debates Of The Federal Convention', 1787.
"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."
"Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
"Equal laws protecting equal rights…the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country."
“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”
"You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself."
"As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
"No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause; because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
"Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued, until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit."
"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions."
"Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."
- 'Federalist Papers', Publius.
James Madison Quotes About Freedom
James Madison framed the US Constitution as an expanded prospect of freedom. These quotes are inspirational and will surely motivate you.
"Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect."
- Letter to William Bradford, 1774.
“The means of defence against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.”
"All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree"
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations"
- Speech at the Virginia Convention, June 6, 1788.
"It may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the line of separation between the rights of religion and the Civil authority with such distinctness as to avoid collisions and doubts on unessential points."
“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
- 'The Constitution Of The United States Of America'.
"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
"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."
- 'Letters And Other Writings Of James Madison'.
"Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power."
