If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

—James Madison

politics society angels

About James Madison

Portrait of James Madison

James Madison (March 16, 1751 [O.S. March 5, 1750] – June 28, 1836) was a Founding Father and the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Before his presidency, Madison was a statesman and diplomat. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his...

More quotations from James Madison

If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

—James Madison

The essence of government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.

—James Madison

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

—James Madison

More quotations tagged with “angels”

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

—Michelangelo

freedom art angels marble carving

If my devils are to leave me, I am afraid my angels will take flight as well.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

fear angels devils flight

Without your wounds where would your power be? The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken in the wheels of living. In love's service, only the wounded soldiers can serve.

—Thornton Wilder

love power children hurt angels wounds

O, what may man within him hide, though angel on the outward side!

—William Shakespeare

man angels hiding

History

3 Feb 2014 Added