J

James Madison

50 quotes

James Madison (1751–1836) was an American statesman who served as the fourth President of the United States. Known as the "Father of the Constitution," Madison played a central role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His political writings, particularly the Federalist Papers, remain foundational texts of democratic governance.

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

— James Madison

Alone

All Quotes by James Madison

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

— James Madison

Alone

“Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.”

— James Madison

Best

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

— James Madison

Money

“A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.”

— James Madison

Best

“Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

— James Madison

Home

“The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.”

— James Madison

War

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”

— James Madison

Freedom

“The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.”

— James Madison

Home

“Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.”

— James Madison

Government

“It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

— James Madison

Home

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

— James Madison

Government

“A sincere and steadfast co-operation in promoting such a reconstruction of our political system as would provide for the permanent liberty and happiness of the United States.”

— James Madison

Happiness

“A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person.”

— James Madison

Government

“Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government.”

— James Madison

Government

“The loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or imagined, from abroad.”

— James Madison

Home

“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”

— James Madison

Knowledge

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

— James Madison

Men

“To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.”

— James Madison

Alone

“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.”

— James Madison

Trust

“The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent and happy.”

— James Madison

Food