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 typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes American politics for not addressing genuine issues honestly.
Theodore Roosevelt highlights a recurring problem in American politics: politicians often evade discussing significant real-world issues in favor of vague statements or empty rhetoric. This avoidance diminishes the quality of political discourse and prevents meaningful engagement with the challenges facing society, ultimately undermining the political system's integrity.
Themes
PoliticsHonestyIssuesAmerican PoliticsDiscouragement
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate to illustrate the need for transparency.
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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