Selected Quotes By Franklin D. Roosevelt
"We and all others who believe in freedom as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom
"It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but that the welfare and rights of the many are conserved."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Government
"Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships, the ability of all peoples of all kins to live together and to work together in the same world at peace."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Society
"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Government
"First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Courage
"There should be no bitterness or hate where the sole thought is the welfare of the United States of America. No man can occupy the office of President without realizing that he is President of all the people."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Government
"I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing them."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom, Intelligence/Wisdom
"The 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 the government."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom, Government
"Taxes, after all, are dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Government
"Organized money hates me--and I welcome their hatred!"
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Business
"There is nothing so American as our national parks. The scenery and the wildlife are native. The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us. The parks stand as the outward symbol of the great human principle."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Society
"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government of the U.S. since the days of Andrew Jackson."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Business, Government
"Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation
Delivered on December 8, 1941
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 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.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But 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.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anger and Fighting
"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom
"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom
"You are only an extra in everyone else's play."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Life
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Success
"Great power involves great responsibility."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Power
"I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen 200 limping, exhausted men come out of line—the survivors of a regiment of 1,000 that went forward 48 hours before. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anger and Fighting
"War is young men dying and old men talking."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anger and Fighting
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. Freedom."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom
"Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Society
"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."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Government
"A war of ideas can no more be won without books than a naval war can be won without ships. Books, like ships, have the toughest armor, the longest cruising range, and mount the most powerful guns."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Intelligence/Wisdom, Anger and Fighting
"The Truth is found when men (and Women) are free to pursue it."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truth, Freedom
"For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up. We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Business, Government
"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Kindness, Freedom, Society
"It isn't sufficient just to want - you've got to ask yourself what you are going to do to get the things you want."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Intelligence/Wisdom
"Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truth
"Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights and keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose. To that high concept there can be no end save victory."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom
"We have always known that heedless self interest was bad morals, we now know that it is bad economics."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Wealth
"A Radical is a man with both feet firmly planted--in the air. A Conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. A Reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards. A Liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest--at the command--of his head."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Life
"Be sincere, Be brief, Be seated."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Management
"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."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Intelligence/Wisdom
"Presidents are selected, not elected."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Government
"There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Intelligence/Wisdom
"If you treat people right they will treat you right ... ninety percent of the time."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Kindness
"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Problems
"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Happiness, Wealth, Success, Work
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Goals
"Books can not be killed by fire. People die, but books never die. No man and no force can abolish memory... 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."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom, Intelligence/Wisdom
"Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom, Intelligence/Wisdom
"To reach a port we must set sail – Sail, not tie at anchor Sail, not drift."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Goals
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism -- ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.... Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truth Freedom, Power
"I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Management
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Courage
"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."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Society
"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."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Goals
"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Goals
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Problems
"I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Criticism
"Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists."
FDR- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Society
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."