Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes About Politics
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There is nothing I love as much as a good fight.
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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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Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and Congressmen and Government officials but the voters of this country.
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No political party has exclusive patent rights on prosperity.
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Be sincere; be brief; be seated.
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The moment a mere numerical superiority by either states or voters in this country proceeds to ignore the needs and desires of the minority, and for their own selfish purpose or advancement, hamper or oppress that minority, or debar them in any way from equal privileges and equal rights-that moment will mark the failure of our constitutional system.
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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.
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Let us not confuse objectives with methods. Too many so-called leaders of the nation fail to see the forest because of the trees. Too many of them fail to recognize the vital necessity of planning for definite objectives. True leadership calls for the setting forth of the objectives and the rallying of public opinion in support of these objectives.
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Presidents are selected, not elected.
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A radical is a man with both feet firmly planted-in the air.
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These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, on my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don't resent attacks... but Fala does resent them.
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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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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 hands at the behest of his head.
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We must save the Constitution from the [Supreme] Court and the Court from itself.
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The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in government than in politics.
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We need enthusiasm, imagination and the ability to face facts, even unpleasant ones, bravely. We need to correct, by drastic means if necessary, the faults in our economic system from which we now suffer. We need the courage of the young. Yours is not the task of making your way in the world, but the task of remaking the world which you will find before you. May every one of us be granted the courage, the faith and the vision to give the best that is in us to that remaking!
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The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerated the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.
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I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.
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Do not confuse objectives with methods. When the nation becomes substantially united in favor of planning the broad objectives of civilization, then true leadership must unite thought behind definite methods.
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In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
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I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues.
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When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not wait until he has struck to crush him.
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Put two or three men in positions of conflicting authority. This will force them to work at loggerheads, allowing you to be the ultimate arbiter.
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A program whose basic thesis is, not that the system of free enterprise for profit has failed in this generation, but that it has not yet been tried!
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We defend and we build a way of life, not for America alone, but for all mankind.
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The 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. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach.
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It will never be possible for any length of time for any group of the American people, either by reason of wealth or learning or inheritance or economic power, to retain any mandate, any permanent authority to arrogate to itself the political control of American public life.
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And yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered, because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply.
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I want to preach a new doctrine. A complete separation of business and government.
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The value of love will always be stronger than the value of hate. Any nation or group of nations which employs hatred eventually is torn to pieces by hatred.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Born: January 30, 1882
- Died: April 12, 1945
- Occupation: 32nd U.S. President