Americanism is a question of principle, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace, or creed, or line of descent.
Theodore RooseveltRead
There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the idea of total commitment to being American without any divided loyalties or identities.
Theodore Roosevelt's quote highlights the importance of complete loyalty to the ideals of Americanism, indicating that in a nation, there should be no partial allegiance. He reflects on the concept of national identity, suggesting that individuals must wholly identify as Americans without holding onto other national or cultural identities that could create divisions, thus promoting unity and patriotism within the country.
In practice
In a speech about national unity, one could quote Theodore Roosevelt to emphasize the need for complete dedication to our nation.
Americanism is a question of principle, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace, or creed, or line of descent.
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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.
Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.
The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale.
Nobody is qualified to become a statesman who is entirely ignorant of the problem of wheat.
The phrase "It's absolutely the same with me, I..." seems to be an approving echo, a way of continuing the other's thought, but that is an illusion: in reality it is a brute revolt against a brutal violence, an effort to free our own ear from bondage and to occupy the enemy's ear by force. Because all of man's life among his kind is nothing other than a battle to seize the ear of others.
Show me the country that has no strikes and I'll show you the country in which there is no liberty.
What good is it to me that Mary gave birth to the son of God fourteen hundred years ago, and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and in my culture? We are all meant to be mothers of God. God is always needing to be born.
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