James Madison Jr. was an American statesman, diplomat, philosopher, who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He is a Founding Father who is hailed as the Father of The Constitution for his pivotal role in drafting the Constitution of the United States and the United States Bill of Rights. He established the Democrat-Republican Party with President Thomas Jefferson.
Born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, Madison grew up in Orange County, Virginia. He was the oldest of 12 children. He would experience bouts of ill health throughout his life. After Jefferson won the 1800 presidential election, Madison served as Secretary of State from 1801 to 1809. Madison succeeded Jefferson with a victory in the 1808 presidential election. Madison is widely regarded as one of the most important Founding Fathers of the United States. He retired from public office in 1817 and died in 1836.
1 Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power. -James Madison
Liberty is a slippery slope. The more liberty that a society practices, the higher the chances of one intruding upon the liberty of others. And it’s not just liberal societies that run the risk. Most times, it is the abuse of power that endangers liberty.
2 Philosophy is common sense with big words. -James Madison
Philosophy is just simple things embellished with fancy and big words. At its core, it is nothing more than just common sense.
3 The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty. -James Madison
The only way liberty can be truly safeguarded is by making education accessible to the masses. It is knowledge and intellect that makes people capable enough to exercise liberty.
4 In Republics, the great danger is that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority. -James Madison
Majoritarianism is a critical threat to any democracy. Time and time again, there have been examples where the majority have ruthlessly denied the rights of the minority and hurt them. The minority has to be protected.
5 A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people. -James Madison
Only those who are disciplined and respect the rights of others can be trusted with their liberty. Only they understand the limits of their liberty and exercise it in a sensible manner.
6 A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both. -James Madison
A government that has no knowledge of its people and their woes will only lead to a tragedy. Only a government that is well-versed with its people can govern them well.
7 The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. -James Madison
Power in the hands of the few will always be abused. No government can be trusted with absolute power. Humans yearn for power and authority and a government that is headed by humans will no doubt be tempted to abuse the power bestowed upon them.
8 Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. -James Madison
Wherever there is excess power in the hands of the few, power will always be abused. And wherever power is abused, liberty and equality will always be in jeopardy.
9 A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person. -James Madison
In the end, power should always rest with the people. A pure democracy is one that achieves this. The people have to administer and keep the government in check.
10 The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. -James Madison
No person who holds power can be trusted. Power corrupts even the wisest. Power will always be abused no matter how pure the person is.
11 Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. -James Madison
War is perhaps the most dreadful and atrocious of catastrophes. It stems from the hate and prejudice that we harbor within us, and sets off a destructive chain of events that only destroys lives on either side.
12 If our nation is ever taken over, it will be taken over from within. -James Madison
A nation has more danger from within itself than it does from outside. If a nation is to crumble, it does so from the chaos and violence that stems from its own people.
13 If men were angels, no government would be necessary. -James Madison
Men cannot be entrusted to govern themselves. If done so, they will soon be engulfed by anarchy and chaos. Men are inherently chaotic and violent and it is the government and the laws they make that have to keep a check on them.
14 Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant. -James Madison
The urgency and confusion brought forth by an abrupt crisis are used by tyrants to control the populace. They cleverly use such times, and if required they even orchestrate such events, to attain or seize power.
15 Good conscience is the most valuable asset of all. -James Madison
A good conscience is the most important virtue of all. A person of principles, who is able to differentiate good from bad, and who has the spine to stand on the right side is a person of the highest honor.
16 The means of defence against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. -James Madison
The instruments and methods maintained under the pretext of defence against a foreign threat are often used against people of the home nation. No government can be trusted with disproportionate power, even if for the sake of defence.
17 No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. -James Madison
Liberty can never be achieved in the face of warfare. War takes away all forms of liberty and freedom, leading to only death and destruction.
18 Knowledge will forever govern ignorance. -James Madison
Knowledge gives power. Those who stay ignorant will always be governed by those with knowledge and wisdom.
19 A people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. -James Madison
The only way to freedom and liberty is knowledge. Those who want to enjoy freedom and be their own governors should first learn and gain knowledge.
20 As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. -James Madison
It’s not enough that every man be given the right to property. Moreover, in a truly glorious nation, every person should have a property in his rights.
21 Learned institutions ought to be favourite objects with every free people. -James Madison
The institutions of knowledge will always be favoured by truly wise people because they know that knowledge is power. They’ll learn and cherish wisdom to not just enjoy their freedom but also secure the future of the coming generations.
22 Liberty is to faction what air is to fire. -James Madison
The same way air feeds a fire, liberty keeps a nation alive. Without freedom and liberty, the people of a nation will be chained by the shackles of ignorance.
23 The censorial power is in the people over the government, and not in the government over the people. -James Madison
Freedom of speech and expression is what keeps a nation alive and well. Censorship should never be imposed upon the people as it will stifle freedom.
24 Experience is the oracle of truth. -James Madison
The only truth that holds any substance is the one that you’ve experienced yourself. You don’t have to believe a word that anyone else says. Only trust your experiences.
22 But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflection on human nature? -James Madison
The government is the reflection of the people. The kind of government that the people choose indicates the nature of the people of the nation itself.
26 In no instance have the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people. -James Madison
Religion can never be entrusted with the liberty of the people. If anything, all religion does is propagate societal notions that are meant to limit the freedom of the people.
27 The advancement of science and the diffusion of information is the best aliment to true liberty. -James Madison
Science and knowledge is the one thing that keeps freedom alive in a society. With more knowledge and development, we can progress as a society.
27 Best Quotes By The Fourth US President James Madison
1. Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power. -James Madison
2. Philosophy is common sense with big words. -James Madison
3. The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty. -James Madison
4. In Republics, the great danger is that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority. -James Madison
5. A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people. -James Madison
6. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both. -James Madison
7. The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. -James Madison
8. Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. -James Madison
9. A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person. -James Madison
10. The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. -James Madison
11. Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. -James Madison
12. If our nation is ever taken over, it will be taken over from within. -James Madison
13. If men were angels, no government would be necessary. -James Madison
14. Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant. -James Madison
15. Good conscience is the most valuable asset of all. -James Madison
16. The means of defence against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. -James Madison
17. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. -James Madison
18. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance. -James Madison
19. A people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. -James Madison
20. As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. -James Madison
21. Learned institutions ought to be favourite objects with every free people. -James Madison
22. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire. -James Madison
23. The censorial power is in the people over the government, and not in the government over the people. -James Madison
24. Experience is the oracle of truth. -James Madison
25. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflection on human nature? -James Madison
26. In no instance have the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people. -James Madison
27. The advancement of science and the diffusion of information is the best aliment to true liberty. -James Madison
