A paraphrase of a statement by John Witherspoon, who was president of Princeton when Madison attended the school, in a sermon "Glorying in the Cross"(1768):
Accursed be all that learning which sets itself in opposition to the cross of Christ!
• This has appeared in the paraphrased form since at least 1845; how it came to be attributed to Madison is unknown.
Accursed be all that learning which sets itself in opposition to the cross of Christ!
• This has appeared in the paraphrased form since at least 1845; how it came to be attributed to Madison is unknown.
“
Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.
— James Madison
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ." in the context of "A paraphrase of a statement by John Witherspoon, who was president of Princeton when Madison attended the school, in a sermon "Glorying in the Cross"(1768):
Accursed be all that learning which sets itself in opposition to the cross of Christ!
• This has appeared in the paraphrased form since at least 1845; how it came to be attributed to Madison is unknown." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "James Madison" (Misattributed)
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.
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