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In all great changes of established governments, forms ought to give way to substance

James Madison

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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
Give
Government
Established
Giving
Governments
Great
Substance
Way
Forms
Changes
Ought
Form

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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.
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The nation which reposes on the pillow of political confidence, will sooner or later end its political existence in a deadly lethargy.
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In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by Power. In America ... charters of power [are] granted by liberty.
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As the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial departments of the United States are co-ordinate, and each equally bound to support the Constitution, it follows that each must in the exercise of its functions be guided by the text of the Constitution according to its own interpretation of it.
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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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A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen.
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The number of individuals employed under the Constitution of the United States will be much smaller than the number employed under the particular States.
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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.
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The political truths declared in that solemn manner acquire by degrees the character of fundamental maxims of free Government, and as they become incorporated with national sentiment, counteract the impulses of interest and passion.
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A local spirit will infallibly prevail much more in the members of Congress than a national spirit will prevail in the legislatures of the particular States.
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The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.
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Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one.
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When men exercise their reason coolly and freely, on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions, on some of them. When they are governed by a common passion, their opinions if they are so to be called, will be the same.
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The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the union of the states be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened, and the disguised one as the serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into paradise.
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Man is known to be a selfish, as well as a social being.
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No man can be a competent legislator who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment a certain degree of knowledge of the subject on which he is to legislate.
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Another of my wishes is to depend as little as possible on the labour of slaves.
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Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not.
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For the same reason that the members of the State legislatures will be unlikely to attach themselves sufficiently to national objects, the members of the federal legislature will be likely to attach themselves too much to local objects.
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Truth [comes only] from those ... who cultivate their reason.
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