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 in blood for centuries.]

— James Madison

The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.

— James Madison

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

— James Madison

The truth is, that in all cases a certain number at least seems to be necessary to secure the benefits of free consultation and discussion, and to guard against too easy a combination for improper purposes; as, on the other hand, the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the scepter from reason. Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.

— James Madison

To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.

— James Madison

To the press alone, conquered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.

— James Madison

What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?

— James Madison

What spectacle can be more edifying or more seasonable, than that of Liberty and Learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual and surest support?

— James Madison

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.

— James Madison

Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions.

— James Madison