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
The government is us; we are the government, you and I.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that the government is made up of the people it serves and that each individual has a role in it.
Theodore Roosevelt's quote highlights the idea that government is not a distant entity operating separate from the people, but rather it is a collective of individuals who are responsible for its actions and decisions. It calls for personal accountability and civic engagement, suggesting that citizens must take an active role in the governance of their society, as they are all interconnected within this system. This perspective fosters a sense of shared responsibility and empowerment among the populace.
Themes
GovernmentPeopleResponsibilityCitizenshipEngagement
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a civic engagement workshop to inspire participation in local government.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
All quotes βIt tires me to talk to rich men. You expect a man of millions, the head of a great industry, to be a man worthhearing; but as a rule they don't know anything outside their own business.
Theodore RooseveltRead
No man should receive a dollar unless that dollar has been fairly earned.
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Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.
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Conservation means development as much as it does protection._x000D_ _x000D_ A man's usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals insofar as he can.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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