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.

James Madison in Federalist No. 51

… in politics as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.

Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 1

It will be no alleviation that these powers will be exercised by a plurality of hands, and not by a single one, 173 despots would surely be as oppressive as one. Let those who doubt it turn their eyes on the republic of Venice.

James Madison in Federalist No. 48

The restriction in question amounts to what lawyers call a NEGATIVE PREGNANT; that is, a negation of one thing and an affirmance of another … 

Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 32

The magistrate in whom the whole executive power resides cannot of himself make a law, though he can put a negative on every [new] law, nor administer justice in person, though he has the appointment of those who do administer it. The judges can exercise no executive prerogative, though they are shoots from the executive stock, nor any legislative function.

James Madison in Federalist No. 47

… if each State had power to prescribe a DISTINCT RULE there could be no UNIFORM RULE.

Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 32

… a faultless plan was not to be expected.

James Madison in Federalist No. 37

The members of the executive and judiciary departments are few in number and can be personally known to a small part only of the people.

James Madison in Federalist No. 49

What are the chief sources of expense in every Government? … The answer, plainly is, war and rebellions – the support of those institutions which are necessary to guard the body politic, against those two most mortal diseases of society.

Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 34

… a mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments, is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands.

James Madison in Federalist No. 48