James Madison Quotes

Where we see the same faults followed regularly by the same misfortunes, we may reasonably think that if we could have known the first we might have avoided the others.

Measures are too often decided, not accord­ing to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.

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

The happy Union of these States is a wonder their Constitution a miracle their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

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

The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.

The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

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.

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.