Quotes from James Madison

We have seen the mere distinction of color made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man.

The capacity of the female mind for studies of the highest order cannot be doubted, having been sufficiently illustrated by its works of genius, of erudition, and of science.

And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.

Equal laws protecting equal rights…the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country.

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.

The governments of Europe are afraid to trust the people with arms. If they did, the people would certainly shake off the yoke of tyranny, as America did.

It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.

In no instance have... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.

There is no maxim, in my opinion, which is more liable to be misapplied, and which, therefore, more needs elucidation, than the current one, that the interest of the majority is the political standard of right and wrong.

If we are to take for the criterion of truth the majority of suffrages, they ought to be gotten from those philosophic and patriotic citizens who cultivate their reason.

Truth [comes only] from those ... who cultivate their reason.

The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.

I love the summer.... the warm weather, hangin out with friends, and swimmin in the warm water..... but most importantly grabin a glove and a ball and playin some softball in the heat.

I should not regret a fair and full trial of the entire abolition of capital punishment.

Whenever a youth is ascertained to possess talents meriting an education which his parents cannot afford, he should be carried forward at the public expense.

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

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.

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.

The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature.

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.

Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.

War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.

It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.

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