To return to higher standards of living we must abandon the false prophets and seek new leaders of our own choosing. Franklin D. Roosevelt More Quotes by Franklin D. Roosevelt More Quotes From Franklin D. Roosevelt It is better to swallow words than to have to eat them later. Franklin D. Roosevelt humorous The barrier to success is not something which exists in the real world; it is composed purely and simply of doubts about ability. Franklin D. Roosevelt wisdomsuccessinspirational 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. Franklin D. Roosevelt perfectly-goodfeetmen Presidents are selected, not elected. Franklin D. Roosevelt selectedpoliticspresident These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide behind the flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the flag and the Constitution stand for. Franklin D. Roosevelt libertycomplainingamerica The whole world is one neighborhood. Franklin D. Roosevelt neighborhoodwholeworld 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! Franklin D. Roosevelt wisdomgivingmean All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on the Mayflower. Franklin D. Roosevelt justicecountrypeople A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward. Franklin D. Roosevelt perfectly-goodclevermen That, in its essence, is Fascism — ownership of Government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. Franklin D. Roosevelt monopoly-powergovernmentessence Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force. Franklin D. Roosevelt strengthspiritualinspirational The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Franklin D. Roosevelt naturelandscience We have always known that heedless self interest was bad morals, we now know that it is bad economics. Franklin D. Roosevelt greedbusinessself Governments can err, Presidents do make mistakes, but the immortal Dante tells us that divine justice weighs the sins of the cold-blooded and the sins of the warm-hearted in different scales. Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the constant omission of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference. Franklin D. Roosevelt divine-justicegovernmentmistake The loneliest feeling in the world is when you think you are leading the parade and turn to find that no one is following you. No president who badly misguesses public opinion will last very long. Franklin D. Roosevelt feelingslongthinking It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach. Franklin D. Roosevelt politicspoliticalmoney I am neither bitter nor cynical but I do wish there was less immaturity in political thinking. Franklin D. Roosevelt cynicalpoliticalthinking Government cannot close its eyes to the pollution of waters, to the erosion of soil, to the slashing of forests any more than it can close its eyes to the need for slum clearance and schools. Franklin D. Roosevelt natureeyeschool The best customer of American industry is the well paid worker. Franklin D. Roosevelt labor-unionworking-conditionsunions I want to preach a new doctrine. A complete separation of business and government. Franklin D. Roosevelt doctrinepoliticsgovernment
