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Tag Archives: James Madison
First Principles: If Mankind Were Angels, There Would Be No Need For Government
“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.” – James Madison
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Tagged Angels, Control, Federalist Papers, First Principles, Governance, Government, James Madison, Mankind, Necessity
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First Principles: The Necessity of Any Government Is A Misfortune
“It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune.” – James Madison, 1833
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Tagged Abuse, Essence, Evil, First Principles, Government, Human Hands, James Madison, Liable, Misfortune, Necessity, Power
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First Principles: Those Lacking Private Morality Will Lack Public Virtue
“If individuals be not influenced by moral principles; it is in vain to look for public virtue; it is, therefore, the duty of legislators to enforce, both by precept and example, the utility, as well as the necessity of a … Continue reading
First Principles: Freedom Is More Usually Taken Through Gradual and Silent Encroachments
“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, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788 … Continue reading
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Tagged Abridgment, Encroachments, First Principles, Freedom, Gradualism, James Madison, People, Power, Silence, Usurpations
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First Principles: Without Virtue We Cannot Secure Our Nation
“Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks — no form of government can render us secure.” – James Madison (1778)
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Tagged Balances, Checks, First Principles, God, Government, James Madison, Lack of Virtue, Security, Virtue, Wretched Situation
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First Principles: Congress Is Meant To Be Limited With Enumerated Powers
“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
First Principles: The Voice of Reason Is Too Often Drowned Out for Immediate and Immoderate Gains
“But the mild voice of reason, pleading the cause of an enlarged and permanent interest, is but too often drowned, before public bodies as well as individuals, by the clamors of an impatient avidity for immediate and immoderate gain.” – … Continue reading
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Tagged Federalist Papers, First Principles, Gain, Greed, Immediate, Immoderate, Impatience, James Madison, Mild, Modesty, Ruin, Voice of Reason
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First Principles: Be Aware of the Jealousies That Too Often Frame the Depiction of Political Adversaries
“Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be, that there is not sufficient virtue among men for self-government; and that nothing less than … Continue reading
First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government and 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, Federalist No. 51, … Continue reading
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Tagged Attain, Civil Society, End, Goal, Government, James Madison, Justice, Liberty, Lost
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