Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind, and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect.
— Letters and Other Writings of James Madison Volume 3
James Madison was a Founding Father and the fourth president of the United States, serving from 1809 to 1817. Before his presidency he was a statesman and diplomat, and he was acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his central role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Born into a prominent planter family in Virginia, he joined the Patriots in 1774 in opposition to British taxation. He served in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress during and after the Revolutionary War. Dissatisfied with the weak national government under the Articles of Confederation, he helped organize the Constitutional Convention, where his Virginia Plan was the basis for the deliberations. The Federalist Papers are his most quoted work in our library.
Born into a prominent planter family in Virginia, he joined the Patriots in 1774 in opposition to British taxation. He served in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress during and after the Revolutionary War. Dissatisfied with the weak national government under the Articles of Confederation, he helped organize the Constitutional Convention, where his Virginia Plan was the basis for the deliberations. The Federalist Papers are his most quoted work in our library.
Most quoted works
- The Federalist Papers 5
- Letters and Other Writings of James Madison Volume 3 3
- A Memorial and Remonstrance, on the Religious Rights of Man: Written in 1784-85 2
- Federalist Papers Nos. 10 and 51 2
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
— The Constitution of the United States of America
— Federalist Papers Nos. 10 and 51
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power.
— Federalist Papers By James Madison: Federalist No. 10, Federalist No. 45, Federalist No. 51, Federalist No. 44, Federalist No. 47
Liberty is to faction what air is to fire...
— The Federalist Papers
Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.
— the tenth Federalist Paper
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.
— A Memorial and Remonstrance, on the Religious Rights of Man: Written in 1784-85
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 the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.
— A Memorial and Remonstrance, on the Religious Rights of Man: Written in 1784-85
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.
— Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Reported by James Madison
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.