Quotessence
Home / Authors / Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes

32nd U.S. President

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenGovernmentPeopleWarNationsWorldIfsDemocracyPoliticsCountry

Famous Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes

“In time of this grave national danger, when all excess income should go to win the war, no American citizen ought to have a net income, after he has paid his taxes, of more than $25,000 a year.”

ShouldYearsWarWinningDangerOughtCitizensTaxesPaidGravesIncomeExcessAmerican Citizens
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1943, Volume 12
Create image

“Of course we believe these things. We believe in social security. We believe in work for the unemployed. We believe in saving homes. Cross our hearts and hope to die! We believe in all these things. But we do not like the way that the present administration is doing them. Just turn them over to us. We will do all of them, we will do more of them, we will do them better and, most important of all, the doing of them will not cost anybody anything!”

WayBelieveHeartImportantHomeDiesTurnsCoursesSocialSecurityCostCrossesSavingAdministrationSocial SecurityUnemployed
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“No country, however rich, can afford the waste of its human resources. Demoralization caused by vast unemployment is our greatest extravagance. Morally, it is the greatest menace to our social order.”

HumansCountryOrderSocialRichWasteResourcesInvestingUnemploymentHuman ResourcesMenaceExtravaganceSocial OrderDemoralization
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1934, Volume 3
Create image

“I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust.”

PeopleHas BeensPoliticalHouseGivenForgetNever Forget
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
Create image

“The peoples of many countries are being taxed to the point of poverty and starvation in order to enable Governments to engage in a mad race in armament which, if permitted to continue, may well result in war. This grave menace to the peace of the world is due in no small measure to the uncontrolled activities of the manufacturers and merchants of engines of destruction, and it it must be met by the concerted actions of the peoples of all Nations.”

WorldCountryGovernmentActionNationsRacePovertyMetsActivityDestructionMadDuesGravesEnginesStarvationMerchantsMenaceArmament
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.”

IfsMenJoyLyingDarkEffortMoralTeachDestinyCreativeCostAchievementFellowsMadMereForgottenProfitPossessionMinistersThrillFellow ManStimulationDark Days
Book:Looking Forward
Create image

“This law represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means completed--a structure intended to lessen the force of possible future depressions, to act as a protection to future administrations of the Government against the necessity of going deeply into debt to furnish relief to the needy--a law to flatten out the peaks and valleys of deflation and of inflation--in other words, a law that will take care of human needs and at the same time provide for the United States an economic structure of vastly greater soundness.”

NeedsHumansMeanStatesGovernmentCareLawForceUnitedUnited StatesGreaterEconomicBuiltStructureDebtTake CareProtectionAdministrationReliefValleysSocial SecurityInflationNeedyCornerstonesHuman NeedsSoundnessDeflationPeaks And Valleys
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“I pledge you, pledge myself, to a New Deal for the American people. Let us all here assembled constitute ourselves prophets of a new order of competence and of courage. This is more than a political campaign; it is a call to arms. Give me your help, not to win votes alone, but to win in this crusade to restore America to its own people.”

PeopleGivingHelpingAmericaPoliticalOrderWinningDealsArmsVoteGive MeCampaignsPresidentialProphetCompetencePledgeCrusadesNew DealPolitical Campaign
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“It is to the real advantage of every producer, every manufacturer and every merchant to cooperate in the improvement of working conditions, because the best customer of American industry is the well-paid worker.”

WellsRealConditionsIndustryAdvantagePaidUnionsWorkersCustomersImprovementProducersPresidentialCooperationMerchantsLabor UnionWorking Conditions
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1936, Volume 5
Create image

“I read in a newspaper that I was to be received with all the honors customarily rendered to a foreign ruler. I am grateful for the honors; but something within me rebelled at that word 'foreign'. I say this because when I have been in Canada, I have never heard a Canadian refer to an American as a 'foreigner'. He is just an 'American'. And, in the same way, in the United States, Canadians are not 'foreigners', they are 'Canadians'. That simple little distinction illustrates to me better than anything else the relationship between our two countries.”

WayLittlesHas BeensTwoCountryStatesSimpleUnitedUnited StatesHeardHonorGratefulNewspapersPresidentialDistinctionCanadaRulersForeignersI Am GratefulTwo Countries
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“On both sides of the line, we are so accustomed to an undefended boundary three thousand miles long that we are inclined perhaps to minimize its vast importance, not only to our own continuing relations but also to the example which it sets to the other nations of the world.”

WorldLongThreeNationsSidesLinesExampleThousandImportanceRelationMilesBoundariesPresidentialContinuingBoth SidesAccustomedThousand Miles
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1936, Volume 5
Create image

“The trade agreement which I had the privilege of signing with your Prime Minister last autumn is tangible evidence of the desire of the people of both countries to practice what they preach when they speak of the good neighbor. In the solution of the grave problems that face the world today, frank dealing, cooperation and a spirit of give and take between nations is more important than ever before.”

PeopleWorldGivingImportantCountryProblemTodayLastsFacesSpiritDesireSpeakNationsPracticeSolutionsEvidenceTradePrivilegeNeighborGravesMinistersPresidentialAgreementAutumnPrimeCooperationFrankPrime MinisterTangibleWorld TodaySigningGive And TakeTrade AgreementsGood Neighbor
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“The lessons of religious toleration - a toleration which recognizes complete liberty of human thought, liberty of conscience - is one which, by precept and example, must be inculcated in the hearts and minds of all Americans if the institutions of our democracy are to be maintained and perpetuated. We must recognize the fundamental rights of man. There can be no true national life in our democracy unless we give unqualified recognition to freedom of religious worship and freedom of education.”

IfsMenGivingMindHumansHeartStatesChurchReligiousLibertyDemocracyRightsExampleLessonsWorshipConscienceInstitutionsFundamentalsRecognitionPresidentialHeart And MindTolerationHuman ThoughtUnqualifiedFundamental Rights
Author:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Create image

“We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics. Out of the collapse of a prosperity whose builders boasted their practicality has come the conviction that in the long run economic morality pays.”

KnowsLongSelfRunningPoliticalInterestPayKnownMoralEconomicMoralityEconomicsProsperityConvictionCollapseLong RunsSelf InterestBuilderPracticality
Book:The Essential Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Create image

“My fellow Americans: Last night when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that the troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join me in prayer: Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization. . .”

StatesMomentsLastsNightFallAsksNationsHoursPrayerUnitedUnited StatesStruggleGreaterSonPrideCivilizationFellowsPreservesPresidentialOperationsSpokesThat MomentThis DayEndeavorRepublicAlliesRomeTroopsAlmightyLast NightCrossingsAlmighty GodPoignantFall Of Rome
Book:The Essential Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Create image

“'Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live without that true religion which gives a nation a sense of justice and moral purpose.”

MenGivingEarthPurposeNationsJusticeMoralDemocracyMessagesConvictionPresidentialGood WillPeace On EarthTrue Religion
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1936, Volume 5
Create image

“A world turned into a stereotype, a society converted into a regiment, a life translated into a routine, make it difficult for either art or artists to survive. Crush individuality in society and you crush art as well. Nourish the conditions of a free life and you nourish the arts, too.”

WorldWellsArtArtistDifficultConditionsIndividualityCrushRoutineStereotypeFree Life
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1939, Volume 8
Create image