The Federalist Papers

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."

"With less power, therefore, to abuse, the federal representatives can be less tempted on one side, and will be doubly watched on the other."

"No man will subject himself to the ridicule of pretending that any natural connexion subsists between the sun or the seasons, and the period within which human virtue can bear the temptations of power."

"It is agreed on all sides, that numbers are the best scale of wealth and taxation, as they are the only proper scale of representation."

"Nothing can be more fallacious, than to found our political calculations on arithmetical principles."

"The art of war teaches general principles of organization, movement, and discipline which apply universally."

"The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first, to obtain for rulers, men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous, whilst they continue to hold their public trust."

"Ignorance will be the dupe of cunning; and passion the slave of sophistry and declamation."

"The people can never err more than in supposing that by multiplying their representatives beyond a certain limit, they strengthen the barrier against the government of a few."

"The constitutional possibility of the thing, without an equivalent for the risk, is an unanswerable objection."

"The interest of all would, in this respect at least, be the security of all."

"There is a contagion in example, which few men have sufficient force of mind to resist."

"To trace the mischievous effects in a mutable government, would fill a volume."

"It adds no small weight to all these considerations, to recollect, that history informs us of no long lived republic which had not a senate,"

"As in the field, so in the cabinet, there are moments to be seized as they pass, and they who preside in either, should be left in capacity to improve them."

"A well constituted court for the trail of impeachments, is an object not to be desired, than difficult to be obtained in a government wholly elective."

"The security essentially intended by the constitution against corruption and treachery in the foundation of treaties, is to be sought for in the numbers and characters of those who are to make them."

"We have been taught to tremble at the terrific visages of murdering janisaries; and to blush at the unveiled mysteries of a future seraglio."

"The business of corruption, when it is to embrace so considerable a number of men, requires time, as well as means."

"What answer shall we give to those who would persuade us, that things so unlike resemble each other?"

"A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government."

"It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or precariousness of the tenure by which he holds it:"

"His avarice might be a guard upon his avarice. Add to this, that the same man might be vain or ambitious as well as avaricious."

"There are men who, under any circumstances, will have the courage to do their duty at every hazard."

"The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favour of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel."

"An avaricious man might be tempted to betray the interests of the state for the acquisition of wealth."

"The sole and undivided responsibility of one man, will naturally beget a livelier sense of duty, and a more exact regard to reputation."

"And while an unbounded field for cabal and intrigue lies open, all idea of responsibility is lost."

"A constitution is in fact, and must be, regarded by the judges as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body."

"Next to permanency in office, nothing can contribute more to the independence of the judges, than a fixed provision for their support."

"No man ought certainly to be a judge in his own cause, or in any cause, in respect to which he has the least interest or bias."

"That there ought to be one court of supreme and final jurisdiction, is a proposition which is not likely to be contested."

"Time only can mature and perfect so compound a system, liquidate the meaning of all the parts, and adjust them to each other in a harmonious and consistent WHOLE."

"The truth is, that the general GENIUS of a government is that can be substantially relied upon for permanent effects."

"The truth is, after all the declamation we have heard, that the constitution is itself, in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose, A BILL OF RIGHTS."

"I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man."

"In one of the most notable essays, Federalist 10, Madison rejected the then common belief that republican government was possible only for small states. He argued that stability, liberty, and justice were more likely to be achieved in a large area with a numerous and heterogeneous population. Although frequently interpreted as an attack on majority rule, the essay is in reality a defense of both social, economic, and cultural pluralism and of a composite majority formed by compromise and conciliation. Decisions by such a majority, rather than by a monistic one, would be more likely to accord with the proper ends of government. This distinction between a proper and an improper majority typifies the fundamental philosophy of the Federalist papers; republican institutions, including the principle of majority rule, were not considered good in themselves but were good because they constituted the best means for the pursuit of justice and the preservation of liberty."