Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations. 1989.
| NUMBER: | 1450 |
| AUTHOR: | James Madison (1751–1836) |
| QUOTATION: | The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | These words are inscribed in the Madison Memorial Hall, Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building. |
| SUBJECTS: | Power |