Madison on Men and Angels

With regards to the Europeans' contention that there is no evil (what a silly notion), and if only clueless Americans could be made to understand that, the whole world would come together as one, let us remember that today is the birthday of James Madison, the president (1751-1836) who said

If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

With regards to whole societies in Europe uniting (in France it has been call l'union sacrée) against the danger of the clueless, bumbling, retrograde, and war-mongering Yanks:

It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.

With regards to Europe's mainstream media uniting to give the stamp of approval to their governments' self-serving contention that it is all America's (or Bush's) fault:

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

Moreover:

It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.

A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.

Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.