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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes

32nd U.S. President

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Famous Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes

“The people of America are in agreement in defending their liberties at any cost, and the first line of that defense lies in the protection of economic security.”

PeopleFirstsAmericaLyingLinesLibertyEconomicSecurityCostProtectionDefenseAgreementEconomic Security
Book:Fireside chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt: radio addresses to the American people about the Depression, the New Deal, and the Second World War, 1933-1944
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“Preparation for defense is an inalienable prerogative of a sovereign state.”

StatesDefensePreparationSovereignPrerogative
Book:Development of United States Foreign Policy: Addresses and Messages of Franklin D. Roosevelt Compiled from Official Sources, Intended to Present the Chronological Development of the Foreign Policy of the United States from the Announcement of the Good Neighbor Policy in 1933, Including the War Declarations
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“Finally, in our progress toward a resumption of work we require two safeguards against a return of the evils of the old order: there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people's money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency.”

PeopleTwoEndsOrderEvilSoundProgressReturnInvestmentInvestingCreditCurrencyStrictBankingSpeculationAdequateProvisionSupervisionResumption
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“For every advance that the Japanese have made since they started their frenzied career of conquest, they have had to pay a very heavy toll in warships, in transports, in planes, and in men. They are feeling the effects of those losses.”

MenMadeFeelingsLossPayCareersEffectsHeavyPlanesConquestTransportTollsWarships
Book:Fireside chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt: radio addresses to the American people about the Depression, the New Deal, and the Second World War, 1933-1944
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“A point has been reached where the peoples of the Americas must take cognizance of growing ill-will, of marked trends toward aggression, of increasing armaments, of shortening tempers--a situation which has in it many of the elements that lead to the tragedy of general war.... Peace is threatened by those who seek selfish power.”

Has BeensWarSituationGrowingElementsTragedyIllSelfishTrendsTemperAggressionThreatenedPeace WarArmamentIll WillIsolationism
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1936, Volume 5
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“More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars. Yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman and thoroughly impractical method of settling the differences between Governments. The once powerful malignant Nazi state is crumbling; the Japanese warlords are receiving in their homelands the retribution for which they asked when they attacked Pearl Harbor. But the mere conquest of our enemies is not enough; we must go on to do all in our power to conquer the doubts and the fears, the ignorance and the greed, which made this horror possible.”

WantMadeWarEndsStatesEnoughGovernmentPeaceDifferencesPowerfulEnemyDoubtPolicyIgnoranceGoes OnHorrorMethodMereGreedConquerSettlingForeign PolicyReceivingBrutalNaziPearlsConquestHarborsHomelandRetributionInhumanCrumblingWarlords
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“On this tenth day of June, nineteen hundred and forty, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor.... In our unity, in our American unity we will pursue two obvious and simultaneous courses; we will extend to the opponents of force the material resources of this nation, and at the same time we will harness and speed up the use of those resources in order that we ourselves in the Americas may have equipment and training equal to the task of any emergency and every defense.”

MayTwoWarUseHandsOrderCoursesForceNationsMaterialsEqualTrainingHundredResourcesTasksUnityObviousSpeedDefenseNeighborPursueOpponentsFortyEquipmentEmergenciesJuneHarnessNineteenDaggersSimultaneous
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“Our policy is to give all possible material aid to the nations that still resist aggression across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And we make it abundantly clear that we intend to commit none of the fatal errors of appeasement. We have the thought that in this nation of many states we have found the way in which men of many racial origins may live together in peace. If the human race as a whole is to survive, the world must find a way by which men and nations may live together in peace. We cannot accept the doctrine that war must be forever a part of man's destiny.”

IfsMenWorldWayGivingHumansMayStillsWarStatesWholeTogetherFoundNationsRaceAcceptingDestinyForeverClearPolicyMaterialsOceanErrorsAidsCommitDoctrineHuman RaceAggressionPacificAppeasementPacific Ocean
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“If civilization is to survive, the principles of the Prince of Peace must be restored. Shattered trust between nations must be revived. Most important of all, the will for peace on the part of peace-loving nations must express itself to the end that nations that may be tempted to violate their agreements and the rights of others will desist from such a cause. There must be positive endeavors to preserve peace. America hates war. America hopes for peace. Therefore, America actively engages in the search for peace.”

IfsMayImportantWarEndsAmericaHateCoursesNationsPeacePrinciplesRightsCivilizationPreservesAgreementEndeavorTemptedShatteredBeing PositivePrince Of Peace
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“While things on the surface seem more quiet than at any time since last summer, I do not like the maintenance of what amounts to almost full mobilization in aggressor countries. Surely they cannot afford it and if they had any definite policy of trying to work out economic salvation (except by arms) they would be showing some signs of cutting military expenditures.”

IfsTryingWarCountrySeemsWould BeLastsCuttingEconomicMilitaryPolicyArmsAmountQuietSummerSalvationWork OutSurfaceAggressionDefiniteMaintenanceExpendituresAggressorsLast SummerMobilization
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“What worries me, especially, is that public opinion over here is patting itself on the back every morning and thanking God for theAtlantic Ocean (and the Pacific Ocean). We greatly underestimate the serious implications to our own future.... Things move with such terrific speed these days, that it is really essential to us to think in broader terms and, in effect, to warn the American people that they, too, should think of possible ultimate results in Europe and the Far East.”

PeopleThinkingShouldWarMovingTermResultsOpinionMorningWorryEffectsSeriousEssentialsOceanEuropeUltimateSpeedEastThese DaysThank GodEvery MorningUnderestimatePublic OpinionTerrificImplicationsPacificNeutralityPacific Ocean
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“[M]y conception of liberty does not permit an individual citizen or a group of citizens to commit acts of depredation against nature in such a way as to harm their neighbors and especially to harm the future generations of Americans. If many years ago we had had the necessary knowledge, and especially the necessary willingness on the part of the Federal Government, we would have saved a sum, a sum of money which has cost the taxpayers of America two billion dollars.”

IfsWayYearsDoeTwoGovernmentAmericaIndividualLibertyGenerationsGroupsCitizensCostYears AgoDollarsHarmNeighborBillionsSavedCommitWillingnessConceptionPermitElectricityConservationFederal GovernmentFuture GenerationTaxpayers
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“The handling of our forests as a continuous, renewable resource means permanent employment and stability to our country life. The forests are also needed for mitigating extreme climatic fluctuations, holding the soil on the slopes, retaining the moisture in the ground, and controlling the equable flow of water in our streams.”

MeanCountryWaterNeededResourcesFlowExtremesForestsOur CountryEmploymentPermanentStreamsSoilStabilitySlopesCountry LifeFluctuationRetainingMoistureRenewable Resources
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1935, Volume 4
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“Frankly, I do not like the idea of conversations to define the term "unconditional surrender."The German people can have dinned into their ears what I said in my Christmas Eve speech--in effect, that we have no thought of destroying the German people and that we want them to live through the generations like other European peoples on condition, of course, that they get rid of their present philosophy of conquest.”

PeopleWantSaidIdeasPhilosophyCoursesTermGenerationsConditionsEffectsConversationSpeechEarsSurrenderDestroyingConquestUnconditionalChristmas Eve
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“I think that both here and in England there are two schools of thought--those who would be altruistic in regard to the Germans, hoping that by loving kindness to make them Christian again--and those who would adopt a much tougher attitude. Most decidedly I belong to the latter school, for though I am not blood-thirsty, I want the Germans to know that this time at least they have definitely lost the war.”

ThinkingKnowsWantTwoWarWould BeSchoolChristianLostAttitudeKindnessBloodVictoryEnglandRegardSurrenderLatterThirstyLoving Kindness
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“Once I prophesied that this generation of Americans had a rendezvous with destiny. That prophecy now comes true. To us much is given; more is expected. This generation will nobly save or mainly lose the last best hope of earth. The way is plain, peaceful, generous just. A way, which if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless.”

IfsWorldWayEarthLastsGivenLosesDestinyForeverGenerationsSecurityExpectedPeacefulGenerousBlessProphecyThis GenerationHoping For The BestRendezvous
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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“One reason--perhaps the chief--of the virility of the Roosevelts is [their] very democratic spirit. They have never felt that because they were born in a good position they could put their hands in their pockets and succeed. They have felt, rather, that being born in a good position, there is no excuse for them if they did not do their duty by the community.”

IfsReasonHandsSpiritFeltBornCommunitySocietyPositionDutySucceedDemocraticExcuseChiefsPocketsNo Excuses
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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