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 Be Obtained

Posted on May 23, 2023 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, Federalist No. 51, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Civil Society, End, End of Government, Federalist No. 51, First Principles, James Madison, Justice, Obtain, Pursue | Leave a comment

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

Posted on May 13, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Administer, Angels, Control, Control Itself, Controls, Difficulty, Federalist No. 51, First Principles, Frame, Govern, Governed, James Madison, Men, Necessary, No Government, Oblige | Leave a comment

First Principles: No Government, Any More Than An Individual, Will Long Be Respected Without Being Truly Respectable

Posted on April 24, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable.” – James Madison (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged First Principles, Individual, Instability, James Madison, More, No Government, Order, Portion, Possess, Respectable, Respected | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Problem To Be Solved Is, Not What Form of Government Is Perfect, Which of the Forms Is Least Imperfect

Posted on April 7, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“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. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be solved is, not what form … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Evil, Exist, First Principles, Form, Government, James Madison, Least Imperfect, Misfortune, Necessity, Perfect, Problem, Proper, Solve | Leave a comment

First Principles: Democracies Have Ever Been Spectacles of Turbulence and Contention; Have Ever Been Found Incompatible With Personal Security or the Rights of Property

Posted on April 6, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Deaths, Democracies, First Principles, Incompatible, James Madison, Persons Security, Rights of Property, Short, Spectacles, Turbulence and Contention, Violent | Leave a comment

First Principles: Legislators Invent Too Many Devices For Subdividing Property, Only Taking Care To Let Their Subdivisions Go Hand In Hand With The Natural Affections of the Human Mind

Posted on March 25, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“Legislators invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, 1785

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Devices, First Principles, Hand In Hand, Human Mind, Invent, James Madison, Legislators, Natural Affections, Property, Subdivide, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

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

Posted on March 17, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

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

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Adjust, Enlightened Men, Enligtened, First Principles, Helm, Interests, James Madison, Statesmen, Vain | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Fetters Imposed On Liberty At Home Have Been Forged Out of the Weapons Provided For Defense Against Real, Pretended, Or Imaginary Dangers From Abroad

Posted on March 16, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“The fetters imposed on liberty at home have ever been forged out of the weapons provided for defence against real, pretended, or imaginary dangers from abroad.” – James Madison, 4th US president (16 Mar 1751-1836)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abroad, Danger, Defense, Fetters, First Principles, Forge, Home, Imaginary, James Madison, Liberty, Pretend, Real, Weapon | Leave a comment

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

Posted on March 13, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“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)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abuse, Essence, Government, Henry Cabot Lodge, Human Hands, James Madison, Liable, Power | Leave a comment

First Principles: In A Society Under the Forms of Which the Stronger Faction Can Readily Unite and Oppress the Weaker, Anarchy May As Truly Be Said To Reign As In A State of Nature

Posted on March 4, 2023 by alohapromisesforever

“In a society under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy may as truly be said to reign as in a state of nature.” – James Madison (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Anarchy, First Principles, Forms, James Madison, Oppress, Reign, Society, State of Nature, Stronger Faction, True, Unite, Weaker | Leave a comment