James Madison Quotes

The government is us; we are the government, you and I.

Criticism in a time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government.

The great constitutional corrective in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage; and this when used with calmness and deliberation will prove strong enough.

Our democracy is designed to speak truth to power.

Did somebody dream there is some way that the government doesn't need us?

The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.

Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.

Democracy is when the people keep a government in check.

Many Americans do not understand that the officers of the government are simply the servants of the people.

We should encourage governments to be sustained by citizens' taxes - that is, democracies. Democracies will be enduring allies of America.

I may be wrong in that, but not I think in putting the questions. In our modern democracy the government needs not a unanimous but a general support for war before it orders our forces to fight.

This is a country for, of, and by the people not for, of, and by the government. If we turn it over to them we cannot complain about what they're doing because this is a natural course of men and we have to hold their feet to the fire.

In the long-run every Government is the exact symbol of its People, with their wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government.

The Declaration of Independence says when government fails, the people have the right to replace it. Well, New York State government has failed and the people have the right, indeed the people have the the people have the obligation, to act.

Representative government demands an ongoing conversation between legislators and constituents.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

No power on earth is greater than a mind and soul reawakened. Our Constitution begins 'we the people', not 'us the government'.

We simply cannot afford to allow our government to go unscrutinised, most of all in amid the bleak seeming imperatives of the 'war on terror'.

Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.

When a government goes to war, particularly a democracy, it is the most solemn and awesome responsibility of our leaders - to decide to send our kids to go off and kill and die for us.

A government as good as the people.

The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should therefore be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country should hardly be propagated. If the doctrine be admitted, rulers have only to declare war and they are screened at once from scrutiny.

That a majority of people can vote against a government, and yet that government still remains in power does not raise confidence in our democracy.

The government is just us.

Our government has become a system rather than a living expression of the popular will.