James Madison Quotes & Sayings (Page 7)

“What spectacle can be more edifying or more seasonable, than that of Liberty and Learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual and surest support?”

“If we are to take for the criterion of truth the majority of suffrages, they ought to be gotten from those philosophic and patriotic citizens who cultivate their reason.”

“The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the state governments, in times of peace and security.”

“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.”

“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.”

“All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.”

“The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent and happy.”

“Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.”

“Commercial shackles are generally unjust, oppressive, and impolitic.”

“All that seems indispensible in stating the account between the dead and the living, is to see that the debts against the latter do not exceed the advances made by the former.”