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
One of our defects as a nation is a tendency to use what have been called "weasel words."
Interpretation
What this quote means
Weasel words are vague and misleading words that can obscure the truth. Roosevelt critiques their use in communication as a national defect.
The quote by Theodore Roosevelt highlights a significant flaw within society's communication practices—the reliance on 'weasel words,' which are terms that allow speakers to avoid making strong or clear statements. This tendency detracts from honest discourse, impedes understanding, and can lead to mistrust among individuals, ultimately calling for a more straightforward and transparent use of language in public discussions.
Themes
Weasel WordsCommunicationTransparencyTruthHonesty
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate about policy, someone could remind others to avoid weasel words to maintain clarity.
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.
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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.
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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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