Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.

James Madison

Federalist 55

Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon
Read Federalist No. 55 at the Library of Congress website

More information about this quote

Topic

The mob Human nature

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 55 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 55: The Total Number of the House of Representatives." New York Packet, 15 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 55: House Size: large enough to be safe.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by James Madison about the mob: “Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still…”
Download
A quote by James Madison about the mob: “Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still…”
Download
A quote by James Madison about the mob: “Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by James Madison

Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of every thing; and in no instance is this more true, than in that of the press. It has accordingly been decided by the practice of the States, that it is better to leave a few of its noxious branches to their luxuriant growth, than by pruning them away, to injure the vigor of those yielding the proper fruits.

James Madison

More information about this quote
Topic
Freedom of the press

Author

James Madison
Language
English
Time
1800 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Madison, James. Report of 1800. Philadelphia, Jan. 1800.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "Report on the Alien and Sedition Acts, January 7, 1800." James Madison: Writings, edited by Jack Rakove. Library of America, 1999.

Another quote from the 1780s

The real or supposed necessity of treating the Negroes with rigor gradually brings a numbness upon the heart and renders most of those who are engaged in it too indifferent to the sufferings of their fellow creatures.

John Newton

Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade

More information about this quote
Topic
Consequences of slavery

Author

John Newton
Source
Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade
Language
English
Time
1780 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Newton, John. "Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade." Letters and Sermons. c. 1780.

Another quote about Human nature

For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes.

Francis Bacon

Novum Organum

More information about this quote
Topic
Credulity Human nature

Author

Francis Bacon
Source
Novum Organum
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Latin
Time
1620 1620s 17th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Bacon, Francis. Novum Organum. London: John Beale, 1620, bk. 1, no. 49.

Current Citation

Bacon, Francis. The New Organon. Translated by Michael Silverthorne. Cambridge UP, 2000, bk. 1, no. 49.