Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.
JAMES MADISONCommercial shackles are generally unjust, oppressive, and impolitic.
More James Madison Quotes
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In no instance have… the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.
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Philosophy is common sense with big words.
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A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.
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No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
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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.
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The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right.
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In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.
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Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people.
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A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.
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Any reading not of a vicious species must be a good substitute for the amusements too apt to fill up the leisure of the labouring classes.
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The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent and happy.
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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.
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As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.
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If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
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As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.
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What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch of commerce when he knows not that his plans may be rendered unlawful before they can be executed?
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I should not regret a fair and full trial of the entire abolition of capital punishment.
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The protection of these faculties is the first object of government.
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The happy Union of these States is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.
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The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to an uniformity of interests.
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Commercial shackles are generally unjust, oppressive, and impolitic.
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A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.
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All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.
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Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.
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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.
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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