What is the meaning of James Madison's quote, What it government itself but the greatest of all reflections..?

Question

"What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections onhuman nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."

James Madison Federalist No.51

what is the relation of this quote to government?

what does this quote mean?

Answer 1

It's fairly literal...

If men behaved like angels, no need for a governing body would exist to regulate the people.

Federalist 51 argues that the inherent virtue of man is to garner power, so Madison emphasized the need for checks and balances in the new government to prevent the consolidation of power into a small group or even a single person.

When the Articles of Confederation were being reviewed and the Constitution was still in the womb, there was even opposition to the office of the president (from the Anti-Federalists, Madison was a Federalist) citing that the president would become like a king.

The last sentence was a bit off topic, but to summarize it - It's all about human nature and the inherent vices, specifically wanting to have power, and setting up a government to "counteract ambition."