The views of a great proponent of liberty: James Madison

I’ve taken quotes from here.

PAEN TO LIBERTY

“In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by power. America has set the example and France has followed it, of charters of power granted by liberty. This revolution in the practice of the world may, with an honest praise, be pronounced the most triumphant epoch of its history and the most consoling presage of its happiness.” ― James Madison

 “Foreigners have been encouraged to settle among you. Industry and virtue have been promoted by mutual emulation and mutual inspection; commerce and the arts have flourished; and I cannot help attributing those continual exertions of genius which appear among you to the inspiration of liberty, and that love of fame and knowledge which always accompany it. [Letter to William Bradford Jr. April 1 1774]”  ― James Madison, Writings

“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.” ― James Madison

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND KNOWLEDGE AS THE GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY

 “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”  ― James Madison

THE THEORY OF THE STATE

“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? 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, The Federalist Papers

 “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce. … The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives and liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the State.” ― James Madison

“The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security.” ― James Madison, The Federalist Papers

KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES

“A good Government implies two things: first, fidelity to the object of Government, which is the happiness of the People; secondly, a knowledge of the means by which that object can be best attained.” ― James Madison, The Federalist Papers

THE DANGERS OF UNFETTERED DEMOCRACY

 “Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression. In our Governments, the real power lies in the majority of the Community, and the invasion of private rights is chiefly to be apprehended, not from the acts of Government contrary to the sense of its constituents, but from acts in which the Government is the mere instrument of the major number of the constituents.” ― James Madison, Letters and Other Writings of James Madison Volume 3

“Democracy is the most vile form of government.” ― James Madison

THE DANGERS OF GOVERNMENT POWER

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” ― James Madison

“The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.” ― James Madison

“All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree” ― James Madison

“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” ― James Madison, Federalist Papers

“The means of defence against foreign danger have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.” ― James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Reported by James Madison

“You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.” ― James Madison, The Federalist Papers

“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

REDUCE UNNECESSARY LAWS AND RED TAPE

“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.” ― James Madison

SEPARATION OF RELIGION AND STATE

“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. [Letter objecting to the use of government land for churches, 1803]”

“The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.” ― James Madison

RELIGION DESTROYS THE HUMAN MIND

“Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind, and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect.[Letter to William Bradford Jr. April 1 1774]” ― James Madison, Letters and Other Writings of James Madison Volume 3

“Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise…. During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.” ― James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, on the Religious Rights of Man: Written in 1784-85

RULE OF LAW

“Equal laws protecting equal rights…the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country.” ― James Madison.

CHURCH AS THE ENEMY OF LIBERTY

“In no instance have the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.” ― James Madison