A reader thought that this quote had been refuted.  Feedback from a reader is in the box.  We answer below that just because someone claims do have refuted something does not mean that they have refuted it. 

 Comment:

"We've staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all of our heart." James Madison  this is completely false. james madison never said this. this is a made up quote from an author named David Barton.   there are many pages refuting this as a madison quote, but you have a search engine and libraries at your disposal.

Answer:

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your feedback.

We are very much aware that there are web pages that disagree with this quote being authentic.  Those religiously (Atheism is a religion, you know) motivated objections are unfounded and do not constitute a refutation. 

You misquoted us, though.  The actual quote as it appears on our page is as follows:

On Wallbuilders.com, you can read about this quote.  Their commentary begins: "While these words have been the most controversial of all unconfirmed quotes, they are consistent with Madison's thoughts on religion and government. They are consistent because the key idea being communicated is self-government, not religious laws or establishments. Our future rests upon the ability of all to govern themselves according to a Biblical standard. Madison could have easily offered the thought."  See the entire commentary and quote.

At the beginning of this page,, says: "

The following quotations have been seen and heard in numerous books, periodicals, editorials, speeches, etc. In our research, we have not previously used a quote that was not documented to a source in a manner that would be acceptable in a scholarly work or a university text. However, we strongly believe that the debates surrounding the Founders are too important to apply solely an academic standard. Therefore, we unilaterally initiated within our own works a standard of documentation that would exceed the academic standard and instead would conform to the superior legal standard (i.e., relying solely on primary or original sources, using best evidence, rather than relying on the writings of attorneys, professors, or historians).

It is only in using this much higher standard that we call the following quotes "unconfirmed": that is, while the quotes below have been documented in a completely acceptable fashion for academic works, they are currently "unconfirmed" if relying solely on original sources or sources contemporaneous to the life of the actual individual Founder. These original sources for these quotes may still surface (for example, a major primary document from James Madison surfaced as late as 1946), and in fact you will note that we have actually located the original sources for some to the quotes below that originally we listed as unconfirmed. However, with the remaining quotes listed below, we recommend that you refrain from using them until such time that an original primary source may be found, notwithstanding the fact that the quotes below may be documented to a number of contemporary sources.

One may only speculate as to how these quotes originated. In two cases, the errors appear obvious. In others, there are historical clues and possibilities. In the final analysis, the words in question - despite the fact that they are currently "unconfirmed" in primary source documents - are nevertheless completely consistent not only with the character of these men but also with the character of their era, including U. S. Supreme Court decisions. Nonetheless, for us, only primary documentation will justify pulling these quotes off of the shelf. We offer brief comments where appropriate, to include supporting quotations and citations."

We included this quote here, since the source of the quote has been found and since this site is not a history site but it is a site to show that way to fulfillment.

This supposed refutation is an example of the double standard that really displays a lack of integrity.  This quote and other quotes "have been documented in a completely acceptable fashion for academic works."  At any university, a Secular Humanist professor would not hesitate to use a quote that was not even vetted to this degree.  The Atheist would be using the quote, of course, to try to refute the Christian heritage of the United States.  The people who have objected to this quote would not object.  Why not?  Because of the content of the quote.  Biblical Christians have come to accept that this is just how it is in the sorry state of the temporary world.

 Comment:

"We've staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all of our heart." James Madison   http://www.seekfind.net/Feedback__We_have_staked_the_whole_future.html   On this page, you state: "You misquoted us, though. The actual quote as it appears on our page is as follows:" But on this page, on YOUR site: http://www.seekfind.net/JamesMadison.html  And there is the quote, word for word.

Answer:

Thank you for pointing out our redundant quote.  We were unaware of the duplication, and, as you noted, the duplicate quotation was not completely correct.  The duplicate quote has now been deleted.

The correct quote is printed below and remains here:
http://www.seekfind.net/JamesMadison.html