Tag Archives: James Madison

First Principles: No Government, Any More Than An Individual, Will Long Be Respected Without Being Truly Respectable; Nor Be Truly Respectable, Without Possessing A Certain Portion of Order and Stability

“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.” – Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, Federalist No. 62, 1788

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First Principles: Ambition Must Be Made To Counteract Ambition

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses … Continue reading

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First Principles: 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

“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 (1788)

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First Principles: If Congress Can Do Whatever In Their Discretion Can Be Done By Money…the Government Is No Longer A Limited One

“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” – James … Continue reading

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First Principles: If Men Were Angels, No Government Would Be Necessary

“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. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Will Not Be Denied That Power Is of An Encroaching Nature and That It Ought To Be Effectually Restrained From Passing the Limits Assigned To It

“It will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it ought to be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: The Belief In A God All Powerful Wise and Good, Is…Essential To the Moral Order of the World

“The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted … Continue reading

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First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government. It Is the End of Civil Society.

“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.” – James Madison

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First Principles: It Is A Principle Incorporated Into the Settled Policy of America, That As Peace Is Better Than War, War Is Better Than Tribute

“It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.” – James Madison (1816)

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First Principles: 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

“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.” – James Madison (1792)

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