I, with other Americans, have perhaps unduly resented the stream of criticism of American life... more particularly have I resented the sneers at Main Street. For I have known that in the cottages that lay behind the street rested the strength of our national character.

Herbert Hoover

Categorized in : Character Criticism Cottages

Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.

Herbert Hoover

4th-of-july freedom inspiring

Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves.

Herbert Hoover

cells business depression

It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.

Herbert Hoover

ladders democracy freedom

My country owes me nothing. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, opportunity for service and honor.

Herbert Hoover

girl boys country

The great liability of the engineer compared to men of other professions is that his works are out in the open where all can see them. His acts, step by step, are in hard substance. He cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like the doctors. He cannot argue them into thin air or blame the judge like the lawyers. He cannot, like the architects, cover his failures with trees and vines. He cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hope the people will forget. The engineer simply cannot deny he did it. If his works do not work, he is damned.

Herbert Hoover

doctors mistake men

The President is not only the leader of a party, he is the President of the whole people. He must interpret the conscience of America. He must guide his conduct by the idealism of our people.

Herbert Hoover

party america people

Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.

Herbert Hoover

war peace death

The budget should be balanced not by more taxes, but by reduction of follies.

Herbert Hoover

economics presidential should

To go fishing is the chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish.

Herbert Hoover

hate inspiration men

Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.

Herbert Hoover

government blessed children

When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

Herbert Hoover

political government people

Freedom requires that government keep the channels of competition and opportunity open, prevent monopolies, economic abuse and domination.

Herbert Hoover

presidential government opportunity

Absolute freedom of the press to discuss public questions is a foundation stone of American liberty.

Herbert Hoover

presidential freedom media

Being a politician is a poor profession. Being a public servant is a noble one.

Herbert Hoover

noble politician president

The only trouble with capitalism is capitalists; they're too damn greedy.

Herbert Hoover

greedy conservative trouble

Honest difference of views and honest debate are not disunity. They are the vital process of policy among free men.

Herbert Hoover

differences views men

I am willing to pledge myself that if the time should ever come that the voluntary agencies of the country together with the localand state governments are unable to find resources with which to prevent hunger and sufferingI will ask the aid of every resource of the Federal Government.... I have the faith in the American people that such a day will not come.

Herbert Hoover

agency government country

Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of "emergency". It was the tactic of Lenin, Hitler, and Mussolini. In the collectivist sweep over a dozen minor countries of Europe, it was the cry of men striving to get on horseback. And "emergency" became the justification of the subsequent steps. This technique of creating emergency is the greatest achievement that demagoguery attains.

Herbert Hoover

horse men country

Words without actions are the assassins of idealism.

Herbert Hoover

presidential acting silence

About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.

Herbert Hoover

inspirational life funny