Tag Archives: James Madison

First Principles: A Republic, By Which I Mean A Government In Which the Scheme of Representation Takes Place, Opens A Different Prospect and Promises the Cure For Which We Are Seeking

“A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking.” – James Madison (1790) The idea that we live in a … Continue reading

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First Principles: A Dependence On the People Is, No Doubt, the Primary Control On the Government; But Experience Has Taught Mankind the Necessity of Auxiliary Pre Cautions

“A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: The Advancement and Diffusion of Knowledge Is the Only Guardian of True Liberty

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

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First Principles: The Essence of Government Is Power; and Power, Lodged As It Must Be In Human Hands, Will Ever Be Liable To Abuse

“The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” – James Madison (1829)

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First Principles: The Essence of Government Is Power; and Power, Lodged As It Must Be In Human Hands, Will Ever Be Liable To Abuse

“The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” – James Madison (1829)

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First Principles: Ambition Must Be Made To Counteract Ambition. There Interest of the Man Must Be Connected With the Constitutional Rights of the Place

“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: 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 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), in Federalist Paper No. 48

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

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

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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…Corrupt His Integrity

“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)

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

“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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