The Federalist Papers (1788)

But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controuls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men; the great difficult lies in this: You must first enable the government to controul the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to controul itself. (Madison: No. 51)

Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates; every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob. (Madison: No. 55)

If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the Legislature as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate anything but liberty. (Madison: No. 57)

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. (Hamilton: No. 8)

. . . there is in the nature of sovereign power an impatience of control that disposes those who are invested with the exercise of it to look with an evil eye upon all external attempts to restrain or direct its operations. (Hamilton: No. 15)