“If Men Were Angels . . .”

Vanderlyn's Madison — James Madison, fourth president of the United States, ca. 1816
(Portrait by John Vanderlyn, 1775-1852, public domain)

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 (Federalist 51, 1788)

“If men were angels . . .”