Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by James Madison (American Statesman, President)

James Madison (1751–1836,) in full James Madison, Jr., was a Democratic-Republican Party political leader who served as the fourth president of the U.S. (1809–17.) As one of America’s Founding Fathers, he was one of the most active delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and played a leading part in drawing up the U.S. Constitution.

Born in Port Conway, Virginia, Madison graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) and quickly became involved in revolutionary politics. In 1776, he was a member of the Virginian Convention, and he served in the Continental Congress (1780–83, 1787) and the Virginia legislature (1784–86.)

At the Constitutional Convention (1787,) Madison influenced the planning and ratification of the U.S. Constitution and collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to publish the Federalist papers (1787–88.) His ability to engineer compromises won him the title ‘master-builder of the constitution.’

As a member of the new House of Representatives from Virginia (1789–97,) he sponsored the Constitution’s first ten amendments, commonly called the Bill of Rights. He was a leader of the Jeffersonian Republicans, joining Thomas Jefferson in opposing the Alien and Sedition Acts and drawing up the Virginia Resolves.

When Jefferson was elected president in 1800, Madison was made Secretary of State, and, in 1809, he succeeded Jefferson as president. His administration was dominated by concerns about the European wars of the period and the damage done to American commerce. By the War of 1812, an unpopular conflict with Great Britain in which the USA gained none of its objectives. In 1817, at the close of his second term, Madison retired to Virginia.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by James Madison

Equal laws protecting equal rights the best guarantee of loyalty & love of country.
—James Madison

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.
—James Madison

What spectacle can be more edifying or more seasonable, than that of Liberty & Learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual & surest support?
—James Madison

Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.
—James Madison
Topics: Education

The danger of disturbing the public tranquillity by interesting too strongly the public passions, is a still more serious objection against a frequent reference of constitutional questions to the decision of the whole society.
—James Madison

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 Madison
Topics: Government

With respect to the two words “general welfare,” I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators. If the words obtained so readily a place in the “Articles of Confederation,” and received so little notice in their admission into the present Constitution, and retained for so long a time a silent place in both, the fairest explanation is, that the words, in the alternative of meaning nothing or meaning everything, had the former meaning taken for granted
—James Madison
Topics: Government, Welfare

The POWER of taxing people AND their property IS essential TO the very existence of government.
—James Madison
Topics: Taxes

A standing army is one of the greatest mischiefs that can possibly happen
—James Madison
Topics: Army

We have seen the mere distinction of colour made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man
—James Madison
Topics: Government

And as it the federal district is to be appropriated to this use with the consent of the State ceding it; as the State will no doubt provide in the compact for the rights, and the consent of the citizens inhabiting it; as the inhabitants will find sufficient inducements of interest to become willing parties to the cession; as they will have had their voice in the election of the Government which is to exercise authority over them; as a municipal Legislature for local purposes, derived from their own suffrages, will of course be allowed them; and as the authority of the Legislature of the State, and of the inhabitants of the ceded part of it, to concur in the cession, will be derived from the whole people of the State, in their adoption of the Constitution, every imaginable objection seems to be obviated.
—James Madison

The nation which reposes on the pillow of political confidence, will sooner or later end its political existence in a deadly lethargy.
—James Madison
Topics: Nation

Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.
—James Madison
Topics: Liberty

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree
—James Madison
Topics: Trust, Government

Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect
—James Madison
Topics: Religion

As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. 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
Topics: Property, Government

That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocally express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic … That this Assembly doth explicitly and peremptorily declare, that it views the powers of the federal government, as resulting from the compact, to which the states are parties; as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instrument constituting the compact; as no further valid than they are authorized by the grants enumerated in that compact; and that in case of deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states who are parties thereto, have the right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them.
—James Madison
Topics: Government

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to an uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government.
—James Madison
Topics: Property

We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.
—James Madison
Topics: Liberty

Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence
—James Madison
Topics: Religion

The genius of Republican liberty, seems to demand on one side, not only that all power should be derived from the people; but, that those entrusted with it should be kept in dependence on the people, by a short duration of their appointments; and, that, even during this short period, the trust should be placed not in a few, but in a number of hands. Stability, on the contrary, requires, that the hands, in which power is lodged, should continue for a length of time, the same. A frequent change of men will result from a frequent return of electors, and a frequent change of measures, from a frequent change of men; whilst energy in Government requires not only a certain duration of power, but the execution of it by a single hand.
—James Madison

The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.
—James Madison
Topics: Defense

The powers of the federal government are enumerated; it can only operate in certain cases; it has legislative powers on defined and limited objects, beyond which it cannot extend its jurisdiction
—James Madison
Topics: Government

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.
—James Madison
Topics: Youth

Government is instituted to protect property of every sort; as well that which lies in the various rights of individuals, as that which the term particularly expresses. This being the end of government, which impartially secures to every man, whatever is his own
—James Madison
Topics: Government

Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government
—James Madison
Topics: Religion

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
—James Madison
Topics: Oppression

Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe 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
Topics: Government, Freedom

The free system of government we have established is so congenial with reason, with common sense, and with a universal feeling, that it must produce approbation and a desire of imitation, as avenues may be found for truth to the knowledge of nations.
—James Madison

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
Topics: Justice

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