A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.

James Madison

More information about this quote

Topic

Informed citizenry Threats to democracy Political theory

Author

James Madison

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1822 1820s 19th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Madison, James. Letter to W.T. Barry. 4 Aug. 1822.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "To William T. Barry, August 4, 1822." James Madison: Writings, edited by Jack Rakove. Library of America, 1999.

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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

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 1820s

Speeches measured by the hour, die with the hour.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Talking too much

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Genre
Political writing
Language
English
Time
1824 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to David Harding. 20 Apr. 1824.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Mr. David Harding, President of the Jefferson Debating Society of Hingham, April 20, 1824." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Another quote about Political theory

My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.

Grover Norquist

Quoted in The Nation

More information about this quote
Topic
Government spending Limited government Political theory
Speaker
Grover Norquist
Source
The Nation
Medium
Magazine
Language
English
Time
2001 2000s 21st century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Norquist, Grover. Quoted in "Grover Norquist: ‘Field Marshal’ of the Bush Plan." Written by Bob Dreyfuss. The Nation, 26 Apr. 2001.