Federalist No. 51 (6 February 1788)
“
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
— James Madison
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." in the context of "Federalist No. 51 (6 February 1788)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "James Madison" (Quotes, 1780s, Federalist Papers (1787–1788))
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About James Madison
James Madison Jr. (16 March 1751 – 28 June 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
About James Madison
James Madison Jr. (16 March 1751 – 28 June 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
View all quotes →