Tag Archives: James Madison

First Principles: There Is Not A More Important and Fundamental Principle In Legislation, Than That the Ways and Means Ought Always To Face the Public Engagements; That Our Appropriations Should Ever Go Hand In Hand With Our Promises

“There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. – James Madison, 1790

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First Principles: I Cannot Undertake To Lay My Finger On That Article of the Constitution Which Granted A Right To Congress of Expending, On Objects of Benevolence, the Money of Their Constituents…”

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents…” – James Madison

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First Principles: The Legislative Department Is Everywhere Extending the Sphere of Its Activity and Drawing All Power Into Its Impetuous Vortex

“The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: We May Define A Republic To Be…A Government Which Derives All Its Powers Directly Or Indirectly From…the People

“We may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices … Continue reading

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First Principles: Knowledge Will Forever Govern Ignorance

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or … Continue reading

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First Principles: There Is A Degree of Depravity In Mankind Which Requires A Certain Degree of Circumspection and Distrust

“There is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust.” – James Madison

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First Principles: Had Every Athenian Citizen Been A Socrates, Every Athenian Assembly Would Still Have Been A Mob

“Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: The Great Desideratum In Government Is, So To Modify the Sovereignty As That It May Be Sufficiently Neutral Between Different Parts of the Society To Control One Part From Invading the Rights of Another

“The great desideratum in Government is, so to modify the sovereignty as that it may be sufficiently neutral between different parts of the Society to controul one part from invading the rights of another, and at the same time sufficiently … Continue reading

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First Principles: A Universal Peace…Is In the Catalog of Events, Which Will Never Exist

“A universal peace, it is to be feared, is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist but in the imaginations of visionary philosophers, or in the breasts of benevolent enthusiasts.” – James Madison (1792)

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First Principles: Wherever the Real Power In Government Lies, There Is the Danger of Oppression

“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.” -James Madison (1788)

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