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American politics8 quotes
We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression-everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way-everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want... Everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear... Anywhere in the world. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1941There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1936I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1937I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932Our Constitution is so simple, so practical that it is possible always to meet extraordinary needs by changes in emphasis and arrangement without loss of essential form. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932All 8 quotes →New Deal3 quotes
I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932These unhappy times call for the building of plans that... Build from the bottom up and not from the top down, that put their faith once more in the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932Political theory3 quotes
Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1936Things in life will not always run smoothly. Sometimes we will be rising toward the heights—then all will seem to reverse itself and start downward. The great fact to remember is that the trend of civilization itself is forever upward; that a line drawn through the middle of the peaks and the valleys of the centuries always has an upward trend. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1945The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over its government. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1938World War II3 quotes
Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1941We must be the great arsenal of democracy. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1940Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1940American foreign policy2 quotes
In the field of world policy I would dedicate this Nation to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other Nations, far away... We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1945Democracy2 quotes
The democratic aspiration is no mere recent phase in human history. It is human history. It permeated the ancient life of early peoples. It blazed anew in the Middle Ages. It was written in Magna Charta. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1941The life of a man is three-score years and ten: a little more, a little less. The life of a Nation is the fullness of the measure of its will to live. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1941Great Depression2 quotes
I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1937The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932International politics2 quotes
In the field of world policy I would dedicate this Nation to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other Nations, far away... We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1945Political progress2 quotes
We are determined to make every American citizen the subject of his country's interest and concern; and we will never regard any faithful, law-abiding group within our borders as superfluous. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1937Things in life will not always run smoothly. Sometimes we will be rising toward the heights—then all will seem to reverse itself and start downward. The great fact to remember is that the trend of civilization itself is forever upward; that a line drawn through the middle of the peaks and the valleys of the centuries always has an upward trend. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1945Unfettered capitalism2 quotes
We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1937The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933Achievement1 quote
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933America1 quote
All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on the Mayflower. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1944America and the world1 quote
We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other Nations, far away... We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1945Book burning1 quote
We all know that books burn-yet we have the greater knowledge that books can not be killed by fire. People die, but books never die. No man and no force can abolish memory. No man and no force can put thought in a concentration camp forever. No man and no force can take from the world the books that embody man's eternal fight against tyranny of every kind. In this war, we know, books are weapons. And it is a part of your dedication always to make them weapons for man's freedom. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1942Capitalism1 quote
We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1937Citizen and state1 quote
There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1936Conservatism1 quote
The true conservative seeks to protect the system of private property and free enterprise by correcting such injustices and inequalities as arise from it. The most serious threat to our institutions comes from those who refuse to face the need for change. Liberalism becomes the protection for the far-sighted conservative. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1936Constitutional theory1 quote
Our Constitution is so simple, so practical that it is possible always to meet extraordinary needs by changes in emphasis and arrangement without loss of essential form. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933Economic inequality1 quote
The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1937Economic theory1 quote
The first theory is that if we make the rich richer, somehow they will let a part of their prosperity trickle down to the rest of us. The second theory...was the theory that if we make the average of mankind comfortable and secure, their prosperity will rise upward, just as yeast rises up, through the ranks. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1932Eff the haters1 quote
They are unanimous in their hatred for me-and I welcome their hatred. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1936Fear1 quote
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933Foreign policy1 quote
In the field of world policy I would dedicate this Nation to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933Freedom1 quote
We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression-everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way-everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want... Everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear... Anywhere in the world. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1941Happiness1 quote
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933Hard work1 quote
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1933Hate1 quote
They are unanimous in their hatred for me-and I welcome their hatred. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1936Human nature1 quote
The democratic aspiration is no mere recent phase in human history. It is human history. It permeated the ancient life of early peoples. It blazed anew in the Middle Ages. It was written in Magna Charta. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1941Immigration1 quote
All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on the Mayflower. — Franklin D. Roosevelt · 1944