James Madison

Conscience is the most sacred of all property. James Madison Essay on Property March 29, 1792

The house of representatives…can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as the great mass of society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion…

The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. James Madison Speech in the Virginia constitutional convention December 2, 1829

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 difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and…

Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. James Madison Federalist No. 10 November 23, 1787