"Federalist 51"

Question

by James Madison

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human 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. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

Federalist Papers No. 51 (1788) by James Madison

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

What is the intended effect of the rhetorical questions in the passage?

(1 point)
Responses

to pose a question about government the writer wants the reader to answer
to pose a question about government the writer wants the reader to answer

to explain the best method for a government to control the governed
to explain the best method for a government to control the governed

to reinforce a government’s relationship to human nature
to reinforce a government’s relationship to human nature

to emphasize the absolute goodness of human beings
to emphasize the absolute goodness of human beings
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Answer 1

The intended effect of the rhetorical questions in the passage is to reinforce a government’s relationship to human nature. In Federalist 51, Madison uses rhetorical questions to highlight the inherent flaws in human nature, suggesting that government is a necessary structure to account for these flaws.