Quotes for the Day

James Madison

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

"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."

"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."

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."

"The means of defense 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."

"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.  War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few."

"Disarm the people - that is the best and most effective way to enslave them."

— James Madison, quotes re-posted from Goodreads