James Madison, father of the Constitution, warned us about tyranny at home
A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person.
A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.
All men having power ought to be mistrusted.
As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.
Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.
I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.
It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.
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.
Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty. - James Madison
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