Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
A trait no other nation seems to possess in quite the same degree as we do namely, a feeling of almost childish injury and resentment unless the world as a whole recognizes how innocent we are of anything but the most generous and harmless intentions
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a sense of moral superiority and the feeling of being misunderstood as a nation.
Eleanor Roosevelt's quote captures the sentiment of a nation that perceives itself as fundamentally good and innocent, feeling wronged when that goodness is not acknowledged by the world. It highlights a psychological state where the collective identity of a people is tied to their self-image of generosity and innocence, coupled with a resentment towards perceived injustices or misunderstandings regarding their intentions.
Themes
InnocenceGenerosityResentmentNationalityIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about international relations, one could cite this quote to discuss perceptions of national identity.
More from Eleanor Roosevelt
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You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.
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It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know.
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I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do.
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