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Quote#Politics & Power

By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to…

Quote byJames Madison · 1751–1836

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Federalist Papers (1787–1788), Federalist No. 10 (22 November 1787) Full text from Wikisource.

English (original)

By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.

— James Madison

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