The health of our republic depends on shared principles like the First Amendment, but it is also built on the Teddy Roosevelt-like vigor of its citizens and local self-reliance.
Interpretation
A strong republic requires both shared values and active participation from its citizens.
This quote emphasizes that the strength of a democratic society relies not only on fundamental principles, such as those exemplified in the First Amendment, but also on the energetic involvement of its citizens who demonstrate self-reliance and take an active role in their communities. The reference to Teddy Roosevelt highlights the importance of vigor and proactive engagement in maintaining the health of the republic.
In practice
In a commencement speech to encourage civic engagement among graduates.
Among the responsibilities of each citizen in a participatory democracy is keeping ourselves sufficiently informed so that we can participate effectively, argue our positions honorably, and hopefully, forge sufficient consensus to understand each other and then to govern.
Becoming a reader grows our horizons, our appetite for the good, the true and the beautiful, and our empathy.
Being stuck in adolescence - that's a hell. 'Peter Pan' is a dystopia, and we forget that. Neverland is a bad place to be.
Rising political tribalism, shamelessly exaggerating our opponents' claims or behavior, is leaving us vulnerable: No one loves America's internal fighting - and our increasingly siloed news consumption - more than Vladimir Putin.
Good history is good story-telling. And good story-telling demands empathy; it requires understanding different actors, differing motivations, competing goals.
I don't think that our Founders would believe that America could long prosper if the people were not readers.
We must have no carelessness in our dealings with public property or the expenditure of public money. Such a condition is characteristic either of an undeveloped people, or of a decadent civilization. America is neither.
Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it.
The union of the mind and intuition which brings about illumination, and the development which the Sufis seek, is based upon love.
There are horrors beyond life's edge that we do not suspect, and once in a while man's evil prying calls them just within our range.
You can have an interesting story about a person living an interesting life. And if it's done well, that is just as engaging as the end of the world. A million people dying - we can't process. One person, we can process.
There are 2,000 verses of Scripture that tell us we must be committed to protecting the poor and the oppressed... There is no concern of Scripture that is addressed so often and so powerfully as reaching out to the poor.
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