I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

James Madison

More information about this quote

Topic

Threats to freedom Freedom Political theory

Speaker

James Madison

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James. "General Defense of the Constitution." Virginia Ratifying Convention. 5 June 1788, Richmond, VA, USA.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention in Defense of the Constitution, June 6, 1788." James Madison: Writings. 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

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.

James Madison

Federalist 47

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Read Federalist No. 47 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Tyranny Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison
Source
Federalist 47 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. 47: The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power Among Its Different Parts." New York Packet, 1 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 47: Complete separation of powers not required.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote from the 1780s

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote
Topic
Relinquishing freedom Freedom

Author

Edmund Burke
Source
Speech at County Meeting of Buckinghamshire
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1784 1780s 18th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Burke, Edmund. "Speech at a County Meeting of Buckinghamshire." 1784, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.

Another quote about Freedom

A free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.

Adlai Stevenson

More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of freedom Freedom Political theory
Speaker
Adlai Stevenson
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1952 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Stevenson, Adlai. "Safeguards Against Communism." 7 Oct. 1952, Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI, USA.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

We travel together, passengers on a little space ship, dependent on its vulnerable reserves of air and soil; all committed for our safety to its security and peace; preserved from annihilation only by the care, the work, and, I will say, the love we give our fragile craft. We cannot maintain it half fortunate, half miserable, half confident, half despairing, half slave-to the ancient enemies of man-half free in a liberation of resources undreamed of until this day. No craft, no crew can travel safely with such vast contradictions. On their resolution depends the survival for us all.

Adlai E. Stevenson

More information about this quote
Topic
Interconnectedness of all people The human condition
Speaker
Adlai E. Stevenson
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1965 1960s 20th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Stevenson, Adlai. Speech in Switzerland. Economic and Social Council of United Nations meeting. 9 July 1965, Geneva, Switzerland.