Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.

James Madison

Federalist 10

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political instability Democracy Decline of democracy Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 10 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 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. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection." Daily Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 10: An extensive republic a remedy for mischiefs of faction.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

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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

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.

James Madison

Federalist 51

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Read Federalist No. 51 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Checks and balances Separation of powers Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison
Source
Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1788 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote from the 1780s

A republic, if you can keep it.

Benjamin Franklin

More information about this quote
Topic
Fragility of democracy American experiment

Author

Benjamin Franklin
Medium
Speech
Language
English
Time
1787 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. Response to a question by Mrs. Powel. Constitutional Convention. 18 Sept. 1787, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. Quoted in "'A Republic if you can keep it': Elizabeth Willing Powwel, Benjamin Franklin, and the James McHenry Journal. Library of Congress. Posted 6 Jan. 2022, blogs.loc.gov/manuscripts.

Another quote about Democracy

Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves.

Herbert Marcuse

One-Dimensional Man

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More information about this quote
Topic
Limits of democracy Elections Democracy

Author

Herbert Marcuse
Source
One-Dimensional Man
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1964 1960s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Marcuse, Herbert. One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society. Beacon Press, 1964, ch. 1.