Quote

Experience has instructed us that no skill in the science of government has yet been able to discriminate and define, with sufficient certainty, its three great provinces the legislative, executive, and judiciary or even the privileges and powers of the different legislative branches.

James Madison

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

James Madison
Age: 85 †
Born: 1751
Born: March 16
Died: 1836
Died: June 28
4Th U.S. President
Diplomat
Lawyer
Philosopher
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesperson
Writer
Port Conway
Virginia
James Madison
Jr.
President Madison
J. Madison
Madison
Even
Skills
Executives
Experience
Skill
Instructed
Science
Branches
Discriminate
Three
Define
Judiciary
Government
Certainty
Legislative
Able
Sufficient
Provinces
Great
Powers
Privileges
Different
Privilege
Executive

More quotes by James Madison

Image
It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune. This necessity however exists and the problem to be solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.
James Madison
Image
The problem to be solved is, not what form of government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.
James Madison
Image
The people can never willfully betray their own interests: But they may possibly be betrayed by the representatives of the people and the danger will be evidently greater where the whole legislative trust is lodged in the hands of one body of men, than where the concurrence of separate and dissimilar bodies is required in every public act.
James Madison
Image
Another advantage accruing from this ingredient in the constitution of a senate, is the additional impediment it must prove against improper acts of legislation. No law or resolution can now be passed without the concurrence first of a majority of the people, and then of a majority of the states.
James Madison
Image
A people armed and free, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition and is a bulwark for the nation against foreign invasion and domestic oppression.
James Madison
Image
Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.
James Madison
Image
Our opinions agree as to the evil, moral, political, and economical, of slavery.
James Madison
Image
Every new and successful example of a perfect separation between ecclesiastical and civil matters is of importance.
James Madison
Image
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
Image
Every nation whose affairs betray a want of wisdom and stability may calculate on every loss which can be sustained from the more systematic policy of its wiser neighbors.
James Madison
Image
The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.
James Madison
Image
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
Image
We have staked the whole future of our new nation, not upon the power of government far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments.
James Madison
Image
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.
James Madison
Image
There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermingle with religion. Its least interference with it would be a most flagrant usurpation.
James Madison
Image
There is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust.
James Madison
Image
In all great changes of established governments, forms ought to give way to substance
James Madison
Image
The power of taxing people and their property is essential to the very existence of government.
James Madison
Image
No free country has ever been without Parties, which are a natural offspring of freedom.
James Madison
Image
An efficient militia is authorized and contemplated by the Constitution and required by the spirit and safety of free government.
James Madison