Quotation by

James Madison

The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.

Advertisement

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

James Madison is saying that the main purpose of creating a government is to safeguard people's personal freedoms and their ownership of things. In other words, government exists to make sure individuals' rights and belongings are protected from harm or unfair treatment.

More by this author

All quotes by James Madison →

More quotes about Government

See all →
A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take …
I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

Advertisement

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil in its worst state, an intolerable one.