James Madison
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
Federalist No. 51, 1788
Documented source
Source
James Madison, Federalist No. 51 (1788), published in The Independent Journal under the pseudonym “Publius”
Date
1788
Wording
Exact
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About this line
Madison wrote it to sell a skeptical public on a radical new document — arguing a republic can’t rely on the virtue of its leaders and has to build in structural checks instead. Some arguments age well.
Why we carry this line
The clear-eyed case for checks and balances: people aren’t angels, so design for that. Ouch. Point taken.
Objects carrying this line
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Madison · letter to W. T. Barry, 1822
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Adams · letter to Abigail Adams, 1780
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