James Madison

"History is the source of all political wisdom."

"The preservation of a free government requires not merely that the metes and bounds which separate its several departments be observed."

"An enlightened zeal for the energy and efficiency of government will be stigmatized as the offspring of a temper fond of despotic power."

"The executive during the term of the Constitution is not invested with any personal influence."

"Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done."

"America has a set of primary interests which ought not to be sacrificed to secondary ones."

"Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power."

"The feudal system has been a system of confusion and disorder."

"Industry is a better security against poverty than any governmental support."

"The genius of Republican liberty seems to demand on one side not only that all power should be derived from the people."

"Justice is the end of all civil institutions."

"The preservation of liberty requires constant vigilance."

"Monopolies are odious and should be granted rarely and with great caution."

"A republican government presupposes the capacity in its citizens for an enlightened choice."

"The best principle for our government is to be found in the people themselves."

"Where an entire nation is engaged in shaking off the chains of slavery, all are not equally fitted for the work."

"The civil magistrate is but the creature of the people."

"All power is originally vested in and consequently derived from the people."

"The diffusion of knowledge among the people is the true basis of public liberty."

"Those who mean well must bear with those who err in opinion."

"The extent of federal authority should never be extended beyond the enumerated powers."

"The security of property rights is essential to the security of liberty."

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone."

"The imagination is the most noble attribute of man."

"We are right to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties."

"The number of States composing the Union is in essence a matter of mutual interest."

"Charity begins at home but should not end there."

"The true policy of any government is to promote the welfare of its citizens."

"Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God."

"Knowledge is power but power without knowledge is a dangerous thing."