Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

James Madison

Federalist 10

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More information about this quote

Topic

Political faction Political conflict Political theory 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.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by James Madison about political faction: “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it…”
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A quote by James Madison about political faction: “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it…”
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A quote by James Madison about political faction: “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it…”
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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 1780s

Variety's the very spice of life,
That gives it all its flavour.

William Cowper

Read The Task at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Variety

Author

William Cowper
Source
The Timepiece The Task
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1785 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Cowper, William. The Task. London: Joseph Johnson, 1785, bk. 2.

Current Citation

Cowper, William. "The Task." William Cowper: The Task and Selected Other Poems, edited by James Sambrook. Routledge, 2016, bk. 2.

Another quote about Political theory

In proportion as the antagonism between classes within the nation vanishes, the hostility of one nation to another will come to an end.

Karl Marx

The Communist Manifesto

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Read The Communist Manifesto at marxists.org
More information about this quote
Topic
Class conflict End of war Political theory

Author

Karl Marx
Source
The Communist Manifesto
Medium
Pamphlet
Genre
Political literature Economic literature
Statement Type
Prophecies and predictions
Language
German
Time
1848 1840s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei [Manifesto of the Communist Party]. London, 1848, pt. 2.

Current Citation

Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto, translated by Samuel Moore and edited by Gareth Stedman Jones. Penguin Classics, 2015, pt. 2.