"La guerre ne devrait être déclarée que par l'autorité du peuple, dont les labeurs et les trésors doivent supporter ses fardeaux, au lieu du gouvernement qui en récoltera les fruits."
— James Madison
Simplified Meaning:
The idea here is that the decision to go to war should be made by the regular people who will suffer most from it and not by the government leaders who might benefit. When leaders decide to go to war, they often don’t experience the hardships themselves, like losing loved ones or dealing with the destruction. Instead, the ordinary people, like farmers, workers, and families, are the ones who endure the sufferings and pay the costs with their labor and resources. For example, imagine a neighborhood deciding whether to renovate a community park. If only a few wealthy members who don't use the park decided, they might not think carefully about the cost and work required. But if everyone in the neighborhood, including the parents who bring their kids to play and the elderly who enjoy the fresh air there, got to decide, they'd vote more thoughtfully because they directly feel the impact. Applying this idea to your life, if you're ever in a position where a big decision affects many people, make sure those who feel the effects get a voice. Whether it's at a job deciding on a new company policy or in your community discussing changes, involving everyone leads to fairer, wiser choices.