Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; have in general been as short in their lives as they are violent in their deaths. - James Madison
Since the general civilization of mankind, 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. - James Madison
In framing a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty is this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself. - James Madison
it was impossible to confine a Government to the exercise of express powers; there must necessarily be admitted powers by implication, unless the Constitution descended to recount every minutia - James Madison
The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money. - James Madison
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. - James Madison
Philosophy is common sense with big words. - James Madison
I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. - James Madison
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. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time. - James Madison
In no instance have the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people. - James Madison
The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.[Letter objecting to the use of government land for churches, 1803] - James Madison
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty. - James Madison
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. - James Madison
The means of defence agst. foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. - James Madison
If men were angels, no government would be necessary. - James Madison
The essence of government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. - James Madison
La más común y duradera fuente de fraccionamiento ha sido la variada y desigual distribución de la propiedad - James Madison
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. - James Madison