James Madison
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance…”
James Madison, letter to W. T. Barry, August 4, 1822
Documented source
Attribution
James Madison
Source
James Madison, letter to W. T. Barry, August 4, 1822
In full
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance…”
Status
Public domain in the United States
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About this line
Madison wrote it after the presidency, making the case that a people who intend to govern themselves have to arm themselves with knowledge — or someone else will do the governing. The full line is the instruction, not just the maxim. We print the beginning, to get you started.
Why we carry this line
Watch a documentary that includes the James Madison story. It won’t take you long to get to the same place: a free people has to arm itself with knowledge or it won’t stay free for long. Still true — maybe more.
Objects carrying this line
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