If men were angels, no government would be.... : Quote by James Madison

“ 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. 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. ”

James Madison
  • From : Federalist Papers Nos. 10 and 51
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