The lessons of religious toleration - a toleration which recognizes complete liberty of human thought, liberty of conscience - is one which, by precept and example, must be inculcated in the hearts and minds of all Americans if the institutions of our democracy are to be maintained and perpetuated. We must recognize the fundamental rights of man. There can be no true national life in our democracy unless we give unqualified recognition to freedom of religious worship and freedom of education.
Interpretation
Religious toleration is essential for democracy and human rights.
This quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt emphasizes the importance of religious toleration as a cornerstone of a democratic society. He argues that true national life cannot exist without acknowledging and respecting the freedom of thought, conscience, religious worship, and education, suggesting that these freedoms foster a responsible and enduring democracy where all individuals can thrive.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of human rights.
There has been one persistent theme through all Axis propaganda. This theme has been that Americans are admittedly rich, that Americans have considerable industrial power - but that Americans are soft and decadent, that they cannot and will not unite and work and fight. ... Let them tell that to the Marines!
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.
A war of ideas can no more be won without books than a naval war can be won without ships. Books, like ships, have the toughest armor, the longest cruising range, and mount the most powerful guns.
Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
A world turned into a stereotype, a society converted into a regiment, a life translated into a routine, make it difficult for either art or artists to survive. Crush individuality in society and you crush art as well. Nourish the conditions of a free life and you nourish the arts, too.
I do earnestly wish to see the distinction of sex confounded in society, unless where love animates the behaviour.
Men always try to make virtues of their weaknesses. Fear of death and fear of life both become piety.
The issue isn't the accuracy of the bombs you have, it's how you use the bombs you have - and more importantly, whether you ought to use bombs at all.
Remember this. Hold on to this. This is the only perfection there is, the perfection of helping others. This is the only thing we can do that has any lasting meaning. This is why we're here. To make each other feel safe.
But then again, maybe bad things happen because it’s the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look like.
When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world
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