James Madison Quotes About Conscience

Quotes about: Conscience

• Conscience is the most sacred of all property.

  James Madison

  Religious, Liberty, Sacred

  James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.479

• Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that, being a natural and unalienable right.

  James Madison

  Exercise, Law, Sacred

  James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.479

• The civil rights of none, shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed.

  James Madison

  Religious, Rights, Liberty

  James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

• The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.

  James Madison

  Inspirational, Life, Religious

  James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

• Toleration is not the opposite of intolerance, but is the counterfeit of it. Both are despotisms. The one assumes to itself the right of withholding liberty of conscience, the other of granting it.

  James Madison

  Opposites, Liberty, Assuming

  "Rights of Man". Book by Thomas Paine, 1791.

• Good conscience is the most valuable asset of all!

  James Madison

  Assets, Valuable, Conscience

• Because finally, 'the equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his religion according to the dictates of conscience' is held by the same tenure with all his other rights. If we recur to its origin, it is equally the gift of nature; if we weigh its importance, it cannot be less dear to us; if we consider the 'Declaration of those rights which pertain to the good people of Virginia, as the basis and foundation of government,' it is enumerated with equal solemnity, or rather studied emphasis.

  James Madison

  Exercise, Rights, Government

  James Madison, Ralph Ketcham “Selected Writings of James Madison”, Hackett Publishing

• Congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any Manner contrary to their conscience.

  James Madison

  Men, Law, Atheism

  James Madison (1999). “Writings”

• As compacts, charters of government are superior in obligation to all others, because they give effect to all others. As truths, none can be more sacred, because they are bound, on the conscience by the religious sanctions of an oath. As metes and bounds of government, they transcend all other land-marks, because every public usurpation is an encroachment on the private right, not of one, but of all.

  James Madison

  Religious, Land, Government

  James Madison (1906). “The Writings of James Madison: 1790-1802”

• Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that being a natural and unalienable right. To guard a man's house as his castle, to pay public and enforce private debts with the most exact faith, can give no title to invade a man's conscience, which is more sacred than his castle, or to withhold from it that debt of protection for which the public faith is pledged by the very nature and original conditions of the social pact.

  James Madison

  Exercise, Men, Law

  James Madison (1865). “Letters and other writings of James Madison”, p.479

• Religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, that all men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion according to the dictates of conscience, unpunished and unrestrained by the magistrate, unless under color of religion any man disturb the peace, the happiness, or safety of society, and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity toward each other.

  James Madison

  Christian, Exercise, Men

  James Madison (1900). “The Writings of James Madison: 1769-1783”

• If the public homage of a people can ever be worthy of the favorable regard of the Holy and Omniscient Being to Whom it is addressed, it must be that in which those who join in it are guided only be their free choice-by the impulse of their hearts and the dictates of their consciences.

  James Madison

  Heart, People, Choices

  James Madison, Robert Allen Rutland (1984). “The Papers of James Madison: 8 February-24 October 1813”

• Waiving the rights of conscience, not included in the surrender implied by the social state, & more or less invaded by all Religious establishments, the simple question to be decided, is whether a support of the best & purest religion, the Christian religion itself ought not, so far at least as pecuniary means are involved, to be provided for by the Government, rather than be left to the voluntary provisions of those who profess it.

  James Madison

  Christian, Religious, Mean

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