James Madison, known as the ‘Father of the American Constitution’ was also the ‘Founding Father’, and the fourth President of America. Madison was a great politician who always strived for a strong and transparent democracy. He advocated the need for a constitution and played a pivotal role in its development. Madison was the ‘Secretary of State’ to Thomas Jefferson, and contributed to major reforms that America underwent. Madison was an architect of ideas and stood responsible for reforms like the ‘Virginia Plan’, ‘Federalist Papers’ and ‘The Bill of Rights’. He also co-founded the ‘Republican Democratic Party’ and the ‘University of Virginia’ with Jefferson. Madison’s thoughts on political issues was valued even after his retirement. His quotations and thoughts are very valuable in speheres of political thought and democracy. His ideas, polices, works and thoughts were able to bring about changes in the U.S. Here is a compilation of James Madison quotes on religion, government, democracy, constitution, liberty etc.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
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.
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.
James Madison
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
James Madison
Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
James Madison
I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.
[The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation (where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
James Madison
Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.
James Madison
History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it's issuance.
No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
James Madison
Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind, and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect.
[Letter to William Bradford Jr. April 1 1774]
James Madison
You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.
As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.
James Madison
Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties or his possessions.
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.
James Madison
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power.
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.
A good Government implies two things: first, fidelity to the object of Government, which is the happiness of the People; secondly, a knowledge of the means by which that object can be best attained.
Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits
it for every noble enterprize, every expanded prospect.
James Madison
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.
James Madison
If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
Despotism can only exist in darkness, and there are too many lights now in the political firmament, to permit it to remain anywhere, as it has heretofore done, almost everywhere.
James Madison
If we are to be one Nation in any respect, it clearly ought to be in respect to other Nations.
James Madison
Where we see the same faults followed regularly by the same misfortunes, we may reasonably think that if we could have known the first we might have avoided the others.
 the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. )
