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The death-knell of the republic had rung as soon as the active power became lodged in the hands of those who sought, not to do justice to all citizens, rich and poor alike, but to stand for one special class and for its interests as opposed to the interests of others.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote warns against the dangers of prioritizing the interests of a specific group over the common good in a republic.

The quote by Theodore Roosevelt reflects the belief that the downfall of a republic begins when those in power prioritize the needs and desires of a particular class rather than serving justice for all citizens. This serves as a cautionary reminder that democracy is at risk when governance becomes skewed towards favoritism, leading to inequality and divisiveness in society.

Themes

RepublicJusticeEqualityPowerClass

In practice

Example use cases

During a political debate, one could quote Roosevelt to emphasize the importance of serving all citizens rather than specific interests.

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It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
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