James Madison Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Perhaps 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."

by:	James Madison (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President
Source:	letter to Thomas Jefferson, May 13, 1798; reproduced in Jack N. Rakove (Ed.), James Madison: Writings (1999), p. 588.
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Categories:	Freedom, Government, Politics, Power, Rights, Security, Liberty, Terrorism, President
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Reader comments about this quote:

I wonder if he had the USA Patriot Act in mind... -- history teacher, expat 1
-- Anonymous
-- Anonymous
It is but one of the univeral truths that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged. -- Mike, Norwalk
This truth applies not only to the political realm but to all social functions. When one is in with one group or friend, corporation etc he adopts certain behaviours, attitudes, and opinions in order to get along and go along with that group and is generally happy to give up his freedom of behaviour, attitude and opinion so that he will not suffer the danger of being cast off into the cold world of "them". -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
Watch the movie,"1984" to see this in action. Keep the people scared of an enemy or other danger, real or imagined , and they will give up freedom and liberty all day long, and do it gladly. -- jim k, austin 1
That's the difference between Waffler and me. I am unwilling to compromise my principles in order to be accepted in the group. Apparently that is but a small price to pay for sycophants to be loved and accepted. Madison was right on, and no better example of this can be found in the actions of the US government today. It is 1984 all over again. When I read that book in the 70's I didn't think it would become reality... -- E Archer, NYC 1
I see Archer totally different than he sees himself. I see him as a starry eyed straight jacketed true believer incapable of freedom of thought. I have been accused on this site of having meandering thoughts which accusation I readily accept and glory in. I am genrerally considered to be a free thinker as attested to by my story today of my defense of freedom of religion to a Baptist congregation. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas 1
Waffler, RE; your first; Isn't that the reason he joined them ? As to your second .. isn't that the same type of circumstance in your first ? -- Bobble, No. Ferrisburgh, VT

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