Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes
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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.
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This new generation, for example, is not content with preachings against that vile form of collective murder - lynch law-which has broken out in our midst anew. We know that it is murder, and a deliberate and definite disobedience of the Commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill.' We do not excuse those in high places or in low who condone lynch law.
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A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
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As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
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I do not look upon these United States as a finished product. We are still in the making.
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We must be the great arsenal of Democracy.
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A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.
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On this tenth day of June, 1940, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor.
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It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
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It seems to be unfortunately true that the epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading. When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread, the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of the disease.
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Yesterday, December seventh, 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. We will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.
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Favor comes because for a brief moment in the great space of human change and progress some general human purpose finds in him a satisfactory embodiment.
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If there is anyone who still wonders why this war is being fought, let him look to Norway. If there is anyone who has any delusions that this war could have been averted, let him look to Norway; and if there is anyone who doubts the democratic will to win, again I say, let him look to Norway.
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The truth is found when men are free to pursue it.
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If the country is to flourish, capital must be invested in enterprise. But those who seek to draw upon other people's money must be wholly candid regarding the facts on which the investor's judgment is asked.
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We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the twentieth century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance, and slavery, and war.
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And so today, in this year of war, 1945, we have learned lessons - at a fearful cost - and we shall profit by them.
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In the days and in the years that are to come we shall work for a just and honorable peace, a durable peace, as today we work and fight for total victory in war. We can and we will achieve such a peace.
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Yes, we are on our way back - not just by pure chance, my friends, not just by a turn of the wheel, of the cycle. We are coming back more soundly than ever before because we are planning it that way. Don't let anybody tell you differently.
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Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.
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There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.
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We shall strive for perfection. We shall not achieve it immediately - but we still shall strive. We may make mistakes - but they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principle.
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Are you laboring under the impression that I read these memoranda of yours? I can't even lift them.
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Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.