Image of Founder James Madison

James Madison

March 16, 1751 - June 28, 1836
Showing James Madison Quotes 1 - 10 of 39
"The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government are few and defined."source: Federalist Papers, No. 45enumerated powers, limits of federal government
"Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; an have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would at the same time be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions."source: Federalist Papers, No. 10government restraint, equality, disposition of people in power
"Who are to be the electors of the federal representatives? Not the rich, more than the poor; not the learned, more than the ignorant; not the haughty heirs of distinguished names, more than the humble sons of obscurity and unpropitious fortune. The electors are to be the great body of the people of the United States. They are to be the same who exercise the right in every State of electing the corresponding branch of the legislature of the State."source: Federalist Papers, No. 57vote, voting rights, people elect government
"Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form of government, can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men; so that we do not depend upon their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."source: Quotes in Jonathan Elliot, ed., The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, 5 vols. [Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1901], 3:536-37virtue, morality, depravity, corruption, necessity for a virtuous nation, election of leaders, education, dependency
"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."source: Federalist Papers, No. 51, p.322governance of men, disposition to corruption
"The House of Representatives cannot only refuse, but they alone can propose the supplies requisite for the support of government. They, in a word, hold the purse."source: Federalist Papers, No. 58power of House of Representatives, financial responsibility
"Taxes on consumption are always least burdensome, because they are least felt, and are borne too by those who are both willing and able to pay them; that of all taxes on consumption, those on foreign commerce are most compatible with the genius and policy of free states."source: Address to the States, April 25, 1783.method of taxing, taxes
"I go on the principle that public debt is a public curse."source: Letter to Henry Lee, April 13, 1790.debt, deficit, spending
"The adversaries of the Constitution seem to have lost sight of the people altogether in their reasoning on this subject; and to have viewed these different establishments not only as mutual rivals and enemies, but as uncontrolled by any common superior in their efforts to usurp the authorities of each other. These gentlemen must here be reminded of their error. They must be told that the ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone."source: Federalist Papers, No. 46, p. 294source of authority, corruption of officials
"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."source: Federalist Papers, No. 10, p. 81.democracy, democratic government, failure of government

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