James Madison: Federalist 51

( 1788 ) Commentary by Robert R. Montgomery, M.A.

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place.” - Paragraph 4
“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.” - Paragraph 4
“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.” - Paragraph 4

James Madison (Library of Congress)

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