Public officers are the servants and agents of the people, to execute the laws which the people have made.
Grover ClevelandRead
The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cleveland emphasizes the importance of personal charity over government aid in fostering community strength.
In this quote, Grover Cleveland argues that the natural generosity and kindness of citizens should be relied upon to support one another during difficult times. He expresses concern that federal assistance may create a dependency on government support, which he believes undermines the strong character of the nation and diminishes the spirit of brotherhood among its people. Cleveland advocates for personal responsibility and communal support over institutional aid, suggesting that true strength lies in voluntary charity rather than government intervention.
Themes
CharityCommunityGovernmentKindnessResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about community engagement, one might say, 'As Grover Cleveland stated, we should depend on each other rather than the government in times of need.'
More from Grover Cleveland
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Though the people support the government; the government should not support the people.
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Your every voter, as surely as your chief magistrate, exercises a public trust.
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It is the responsibility of the citizens to support their government. It is not the responsibility of the government to support its citizens.
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Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again.
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