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
A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Education can empower individuals to achieve greater ambitions, but it may also lead to greater ethical dilemmas.
This quote by Theodore Roosevelt reflects the dual nature of education—it can elevate a person’s capabilities to achieve great things, but it can also provide the means to exploit and take advantage of systems and institutions. Roosevelt suggests that while knowledge can lead to impressive accomplishments, it can also foster unethical behavior if one's values are not grounded.
Themes
EducationEthicsAmbitionPowerKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in an educational seminar to discuss the moral implications of knowledge.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
All quotes →It 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.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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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Our higher education system is one of the things that makes America exceptional. There's no place else that has the assets we do when it comes to higher education. People from all over the world aspire to come here and study here. And that is a good thing.
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