Tag Archives: James Madison

First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government. It Is the End of Civil Society. It Ever Has Been and Ever Will Be Pursued Until It Is Obtained, or, Until Liberty Be Lost In the Pursuit

Posted on December 21, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“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 (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged End of Civil Society, End of Government, First Principles, James Madison, Justice, Liberty, Lost, Obtain, Pursue, Pursuit | Leave a comment

First Principles: Enlightened Statesmen Will Not Always Be At the Helm

Posted on December 9, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” – James Madison (1787)

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First Principles: The Aim of Every Political Constitution Is, Or Ought To Be, First To Obtain For Rulers Men Who Possess Most Wisdom To Discern and Most Virtue To Pursue the Common Good of the Society

Posted on November 15, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to … Continue reading →

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First Principles: 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

Posted on October 30, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“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.” – James Madison (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Allow, Bias, Cause, Corrupt, First Principles, Improbable, Integrity, Interest, James Madison, Judge, Judgment, No Man | Leave a comment

First Principles: Where An Excess of Power Prevails, Property of No Sort Is Duly Respected

Posted on October 28, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“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)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Excess, Faculties, First Principles, In Opinions, James Madison, No Person, Person, Possessions, Power, Prevail, Property, Respected, Safe | Leave a comment

First Principles: It Will Be of Little Avail To the People If the Laws Are So Voluminous That They Cannot Be Read Or So Incoherent That They Cannot Be Understood

Posted on October 24, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“It will be of little avail to the people if the laws are so voluminous that they cannot be read or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” – James Madison

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Cannot Be Read, Cannot Be Understood, First Principles, Incoherent, James Madison, Laws, Little Avail, So Voluminous, The People | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 16, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 55 (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Certain Degree, Circumspection, Degree, Depravity, Distrust, Federalist Paper No. 55, First Principles, James Madison, Mankind, Require | Leave a comment

First Principles: That Is No Maxim…More Liable To Be Misapplied… Than… That…the Interest of the Majority Is the Political Standard of Right and Wrong

Posted on October 7, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“There is no maxim in my opinion which is more liable to be misapplied, and which therefore needs elucidation than the current one that the interest of the majority is the political standard of right and wrong.” – James Madison … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Truth, Not the Word of Teachers

Posted on October 3, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Truth, not the word of teachers.” – James Madison Veritas non verba magistri. James Madison’s seal used on his important documents. Loosely it means “Think for yourself.” I have chosen the stronger translation because in times when the NYT literally … Continue reading →

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First Principles: A Universal Peace…Will Never Exist But In the Imaginations of Visionary Philosophers

Posted on September 10, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“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)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Catalog, Enthusiasts, Events, Fearless, First Principles, Imagination, James Madison, Never Exist, Philosopher, Universal Peace, Visionary | Leave a comment