Profound Quotes by James Madison in Context on Our 250th Anniversary

Guest post by Rolf Lindgren

James Madison (1751-1836) is arguably the greatest political thinker ever. No one else has anywhere near as many profound quotes on the operation of government.

Madison got a quick start in politics, and on May 15, 1776, 25-year-old Madison voted for independence at the 5th Virginia Revolutionary Convention. The vote was unanimous, and then Richard Henry Lee famously presented the news to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia! Once Virginia was on board for independence, the Declaration of Independence soon followed.

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Madison is the Father of the Constitution and the original author of the Bill of Rights. He co-authored the Federalist Papers.

He wrote the most celebrated essays of the Federalist Papers, Federalist #10 and # 51. He wrote other gems, including Federalist #45 and #62.

James Madison, along with his best friend Thomas Jefferson, was the driving force for religious liberty in America.

And as President of the United States (1809-1817), Madison actually followed the Constitution during the War of 1812.

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James Madison had a long retirement of almost 20 years, answering questions about the Constitution from people all over the nation. Here are some of his most profound statements, with short commentary.

“Torrents of blood have been spilt in the old world, by vain attempts of the secular arm, to extinguish Religious discord, by proscribing all difference in Religious opinion.”

Memorial and Remonstrance, June 20, 1785

Madison here is referring to events like the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) and the two-century fight in England between Protestants and Catholics. Thanks to James Madison, these types of wars have never happened in the United States.

“A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence against foreign danger have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.”

Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, June 29, 1787

We have the right to bear arms to protect ourselves. That’s less expensive than a gigantic military budget.

“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”

Federalist # 10

Thankfully, we are a republic, not a democracy.

“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”

Federalist # 45

This is basically an elaboration of the Tenth Amendment before the Tenth Amendment was even written!

“The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.”

Federalist # 48

This is scary, but true. The original Constitution prevented this. But after the Constitution was changed in 1913, big government ensued.

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“A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

Federalist # 51

This quote is a profound reflection upon how government structure matters. Please consult the entire essay to appreciate its greatness.

“It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.”

Federalist #62

We have so many laws today that no one knows what they all are. This classic Federalist essay mostly covers the operations of the US Senate.

“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.”

Virginia Ratification Convention, June 16, 1788

The convention eventually voted to ratify by a vote of 89-79, on June 25.

“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.”

Letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1788

Madison was warning Jefferson that oppression can come from other entities of government besides just a tyrant or dictator. This quote has manifest meaning for today, when it is often difficult discern who or what has the real power.

“A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.”

Floor of Congress, June 8, 1789

This is the original text of James Madison’s first version of the Second Amendment.

“War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.”

Political Observations, April 20, 1795

This was published by Madison in Philadelphia, as an anonymous essay.

“It has been said that America is a country for the poor, not for the rich. There would be more correctness in saying it is the country for both.”

Letter to Francis Corbin, November 26, 1820

Madison is trying to prevent class warfare. In America, we have a lot less class warfare than in other places in the world.

“The legitimate meanings of the Constitution must be derived from the text itself.”

Letter to Thomas Ritchie, September 15, 1821

This is the same philosophy as is expoused by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is a textualist.

“Religion & Govt. will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”

Letter to Edward Livingston, July 19, 1822

Basically, Madison wanted religion to be handled by the private sector.

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: people must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

Letter to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822

An informed electorate is critical to a functioning republic. Today, we are losing this with an almost worthless education system and wretched mass media.

“The language of our Constitution is already undergoing interpretations unknown to its founders.”

Letter to Henry Lee, June 25, 1824

This problem has gotten a lot worse since 1824. That’s why the ideas of our Founders are important.

If more Americans knew these quotes and government followed Madison’s advice, we would have a lot more prosperity and a lot less government.

Rolf Lindgren is the Pints & Politics Director of the Republican Party of Dane County. He is a singer known as Wisco Rolf and his website is WiscoRolf.com – The Badger State’s Musical Maverick & Liberty’s Voice