Replies

My favorite Madison quote in light of our over regulated nation.

What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch of commerce when he knows not that his plans may be rendered unlawful before they can be executed?

Others.

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

All that seems indispensible in stating the account between the dead and the living, is to see that the debts against the latter do not exceed the advances made by the former.

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.

And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.

Despotism can only exist in darkness, and there are too many lights now in the political firmament to permit it to remain anywhere, as it has heretofore done, almost everywhere.

Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations.

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.

Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.

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.

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