The moral and social aspiration proper to American life is, of course, the aspiration vaguely described by the word democratic; and the actual achiev…

- Herbert Croly

American history contains much matter for pride and congratulation, and much matter for regret and humiliation.

- Herbert Croly

Democracy must stand or fall on a platform of possible human perfectibility. If human nature cannot be improved by institutions, democracy is at best…

- Herbert Croly

Had it not been for the Atlantic Ocean and the virgin wilderness, the United States would never have been the Land of Promise.

- Herbert Croly

The popular will cannot be taken for granted, it must be created.

- Herbert Croly

Unless the great majority of Americans not only have, but believe they have, a fair chance, the better American future will be dangerously compromise…

- Herbert Croly

So long as the great majority of the poor in any country are inert and are laboring without any hope in this world, the whole associated life of that…

- Herbert Croly

The national school is not a lecture hall or a library. Its schooling consists chiefly in experimental collective action aimed at the realization of …

- Herbert Croly

When Jefferson and the Republicans rallied to the Union and to the existing Federalist organization, the fabric of traditional American democracy was…

- Herbert Croly