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Quotation from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
“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”
The Federalist Papers, Federalist No. 51
Madison explains checks and balances by pointing to the mixed character of human governors and governed.
Citation: "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" — Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, The Federalist Papers, Federalist No. 51. (id the-federalist-papers-q2)
Portrait: The Federalist (1st ed, 1788, vol I, title page) - 02, Publius (pseudonym) [Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison]., Public domain.
