In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person; in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. A democracy, consequently, will be confined to a small spot. A republic may be extended over a large region.

James Madison

Federalist 14

Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon
Read Federalist No. 14 at the Library of Congress website

More information about this quote

Topic

Republic vs. democracy Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 14 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. 14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered." New York Packet, 30 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 14: Proposed union not too large for republican government.--Madison." 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 republic vs. democracy: “In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in…”
Download
A quote by James Madison about republic vs. democracy: “In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in…”
Download
A quote by James Madison about republic vs. democracy: “In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in…”
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

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

Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon
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

If we should ever get to Heaven, we shall find nobody to reproach us for being black, or being slaves.

Jupiter Hammon

More information about this quote
Topic
Black experience
Speaker
Jupiter Hammon
Medium
Speech
Language
English
Time
1786 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Hammon, Jupiter. "An Address to the Negroes in the State of New York." 24 Sept. 1786, New York, NY, USA.

Another quote about Political theory

Every project has been found to be no better than committing the lamb to the custody of the wolf, except that one which is called a balance of power.

John Adams

More information about this quote
Topic
Constitutional theory Political theory

Author

John Adams
Source
Letters of John Adams
Medium
Letter
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1789 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Adams, John. Letter to Roger Sherman. 17 July 1789.

Current Citation

Adams, John. "Correspondence with Roger Sherman and John Taylor." The Portable John Adams. Penguin Classics, 2004.