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 More Quotes by James Madison More Quotes From James Madison Can it be of less consequence that the meaning of a Constitution should be fixed and known, than a meaning of a law should be so? James Madison constitution should law 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 of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect. James Madison government evil perfect if the people are to be our governors, they must arm themselves with knowledge. James Madison governors arms people It is of great importance in a republic, not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers; but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. James Madison tyranny-of-the-majority republican-government injustice The civil Government, though bereft of every thing like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success; whilst the number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the State. James Madison atheism government religion You give me a credit to which I have no claim in calling me "the writer of the Constitution of the United States." This was not, like the fabled Goddess of Wisdom, the offspring of a single brain. It ought to be regarded as the work of many heads and many hands. James Madison brain giving hands The growing wealth aquired by them corporations never fails to be a source of abuses. James Madison abuse growing democracy A certain degree of preparation for war . . . affords also the best security for the continuance of peace. James Madison degrees preparation war 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 society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust. James Madison trust political men Procrastination in the beginning and precipitation towards the conclusion is the characteristic of such bodies. James Madison characteristics procrastination body A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people. James Madison wells liberty people Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. James Madison secular-society law exercise Conscience is the most sacred of all property. James Madison sacred liberty religious Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion and Government in the Constitution of the United States, the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history. James Madison atheism government religion Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that, being a natural and unalienable right. James Madison sacred law exercise Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government. James Madison atheism liberty government What a perversion of the normal order of things! ... to make power the primary and central object of the social system, and Liberty but its satellite. James Madison normal liberty order The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right. James Madison protection liberty giving 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 controuled itself, from setting up an interest adverse to that of the entire Society. James Madison government different rights Frequent elections are unquestionably the only policy by which this dependence and sympathy can be effectually secured. But what particular degree of frequency may be absolutely necessary for the purpose, does not appear to be susceptible of any precise calculation; and must depend on a variety of circumstances with which it may be connected. Let us consult experience, the guide that ought always to be followed, whenever it can be found. James Madison degrees government doe
