"Dans nos gouvernements, le véritable pouvoir réside dans la majorité de la communauté, et l'invasion des droits privés est principalement à craindre, non pas des actes du gouvernement contraires au sens de ses constituants, mais des actes dans lesquels le "
— James Madison
Simplified Meaning:
In a democratic society, the most influence comes from what the majority of people want. Sometimes, private rights are threatened, not because the government oversteps its boundaries, but because it simply does what most people want. For example, imagine a neighborhood where most residents decide they want to cut down all the trees to build more houses. Even if a few people strongly believe the trees should be protected, their rights are at risk because the government might follow the majority’s wishes to remove the trees. This means it's important for individuals to be vigilant and ensure that the rights of everyone, including the minority, are respected. People should actively participate in their community to safeguard their rights and those of others, rather than relying solely on the government.