James Madison

The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the state. ↗

— James Madison

#church #devotion #increased #industry #manifestly

To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression. ↗

— James Madison

#been #chequered #error #gained #humanity

War contains so much folly, as well as wickedness, that much is to be hoped from the progress of reason. ↗

— James Madison

#folly #hoped #much #progress #reason

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? ↗

— James Madison

#leaning #learning #liberty #more #mutual

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

#anywhere #darkness #despotism #done #everywhere

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 Madison

#arm #forever #gives #govern #governors

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

#afraid #armed #arms #being #citizens

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. ↗

— James Madison

#encroachments #freedom #gradual #i #i believe

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. ↗

— James Madison

#cannot #choice #incoherent #laws #little

Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government. ↗

— James Madison

#constitution #distorted #end #form #government