I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse and in a republican government more than in any other.
James MadisonRead
The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Governments hold power within society which can be misused by humans.
James Madison emphasizes that the fundamental nature of government is the possession of power. Since power is inevitably entrusted to human beings, it comes with the inherent risk of potential abuse, which underscores the need for checks and balances in governance to prevent tyranny and corruption.
Themes
GovernmentPowerAbuseHumanPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about political reforms at a town hall meeting.
More from James Madison
All quotes βNo man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause; because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time.
James MadisonRead
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; but, on a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions, which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other cause, produced despotism.
James MadisonRead
The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.
James MadisonRead
Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
James MadisonRead
The magnitude of this evil among us is so deeply felt, and so universally acknowledged, that no merit could be greater than that of devising a satisfactory remedy for it.
James MadisonRead
Similar quotes
However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
George WashingtonRead
The irony of the political rise of the plutocrats is that, like Venice's oligarchs, they threaten the system that created them.
Chrystia FreelandRead
Of course Brexit means that something is wrong in Europe. But Brexit means also that something was wrong in Britain.
Jean-Claude JunckerRead
Democrats lead in all the polls by at least ten points, except one.. Fox News. That is with a margin of error of plus or minus the facts.
Stephen ColbertRead
We have two evils to fight, capitalism and racism. We must destroy both racism and capitalism.
Huey NewtonRead
I pointed to an article with bold headlines reporting that the police had refused to allow the PAP to hold a rally at Empress Place, and then to the last paragraph where in small type it added the meeting would take place where we were now. I compared this with a prominent report about an SPA rally. This was flagrant bias.
Lee Kuan YewRead