Madison James Quotes A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person. All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity. That part of America which had encouraged them most had advanced most rapidly in population, agriculture and the arts. Each generation should be made to bear the of burden its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations. 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. Knowledge will forever govern i...