Federalists and Anti-Federalists Quotes

Federalists and Anti-Federalists Quotes The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. ― James Madison The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security. ― James Madison The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests. ― Patrick Henry If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. ― James Madison To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them. ―Richard Henry Lee The pride of states as well as men, naturally disposes them to justify all their actions, and opposes their acknowledging, correcting or repairing their errors and offences. ― John Jay, No. 3 In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. ―James Madison Nothing is more certain then the indispensable necessity of government; and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights, in order to vest it with requisite powers. ― John Jay, No. 2 A people, entering into society, surrender such a part of their natural rights, as shall be necessary for the existence of that society. They are so precious in themselves, that they would never be parted with, did not the preservation of the remainder require it. They are entrusted in the hands of those, who are very willing to receive them, who are naturally fond of exercising of them, and whose passions are always striving to make a bad use of them. ―John Dewit A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. ― Alexander Hamilton A well-governed state is as fruitful to all good purposes as the seven headed serpent is said to have been in evil; when one head is cut off, many rise up in the place of it That there ought to be one court of supreme and final jurisdiction, is a proposition which is not likely to be contested. ― Alexander Hamilton, No. 81 It is to be lamented that the interested … have availed themselves so successfully of the present crisis, and under the specious pretence of having discovered a panacea for all the ills of the people, they are about establishing a system of government, that will prove more destructive to them than the wooden horse filled with soldiers did in ancient times to the city of Troy. This horse was introduced by their hostile enemy the Grecians, by a prostitution of the sacred rites of their religion; in like manner, my fellow citizens, are aspiring despots among yourselves prostituting the name of a Washington to cloak their designs upon your liberties." — Samuel Bryan The truth is, after all the declamation we have heard, that the constitution is itself, in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose, A BILL OF RIGHTS. ― Alexander Hamilton, No. 84