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 necessity of a senate is not less indicated by the propensity of all single and numerous assemblies, to yield to the impulse of sudden and violent passions, and to be seduced by factious leaders, into intemperate and pernicious resolutions.
Interpretation
A senate is necessary to temper the rash decisions made by assemblies driven by strong emotions and influenced by manipulative leaders.
James Madison emphasizes the importance of a senate in preventing hasty and damaging decisions that can arise from emotional responses in large groups or assemblies. He suggests that without this deliberative body, assemblies may be led astray by charismatic leaders who exploit the vulnerabilities of the public to pass harmful resolutions.
In practice
During a political debate, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of having a deliberative body in government.
I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse and in a republican government more than in any other.
No 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.
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.
The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.
Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
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.
It is often said that Trump has no real ideology, which is not true - his ideology is white supremacy, in all its truculent and sanctimonious power.
I learned that fighting on the chess board could also have an impact on the political climate in the country.
We do not need the empire to give us anything.
We must try again to be alive to what the people of our country really long for in our national life: forgiveness and grace, maturity and wisdom. ...Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is a difficult, hard, full-contact, participatory endeavor.
The bureaucracy takes itself to be the ultimate purpose of the state
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