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
I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the State, the community, the citizens acting together, can do a number of things better than if they were left to individual action.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the balance between individualism and collective action, asserting that communities can achieve greater results together than individuals alone.
Theodore Roosevelt highlights the importance of recognizing the power of collective action in society. While he identifies as a strong individualist, he acknowledges that certain tasks and responsibilities are better served when citizens collaborate and work together through governmental and community efforts. This viewpoint suggests a pragmatic approach to social organization where individual strengths are complemented by the combined effectiveness of the group.
Themes
IndividualismCommunityCollective ActionBalanceCooperation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of community service.
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.
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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.
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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