It has been said that James Madison feared the passions of the people, but admired their reason. How is the Electoral College reflective of this idea?

The Electoral College reflects Madison's ideas in that it adds another level of checks and balances between the electorate and the government. In a direct democracy, leaders would be elected strictly by the People, and could be done so in a moment of the "passion" which Madison feared. However, by having delegates serve in the Electoral College, our government inserts both a temporal barrier, and the ability for those delegates to potentially override the momentary whims of the people if they do not serve the greater good.