"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." --James Madison
Additional Quotes from James Madison
All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.
Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.
I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
In Republics, the great danger is, that the majority may not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority.
It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.
Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.
The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent and happy.
The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.
The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived.
The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right.
The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.
We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.
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.
Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.
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