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Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes
1882–1945
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (30 January 1882 – 12 April 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served as the president of the United States, from 1933, to 1945. A Democrat, he won a record four presidential elections and dominated his party for many years as a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic depression and total war.
Also known as: F.D. Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, Address Announcing the Second New Deal
Random Franklin D. Roosevelt quote
159 quotes
This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.
We defend and we build a way of life, not for America alone, but for all mankind.
On this tenth day of June, 1940, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor.
Freedom to learn is the first necessity of guaranteeing that man himself shall be self-reliant enough to be free.
Throughout the world, change is the order of the day.
State of the Union address (1935)
It seems to me that the dedication of a library is in itself an act of faith.
The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.
We must be the great arsenal of Democracy.
There can be no constitutional democracy in any community which denies to the individual his freedom to speak and worship as he wishes.
Fireside Chat in the night before signing the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938)
No democracy can long survive which does not accept as fundamental to its very existence the recognition of the rights of its minorities.
I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.
A great man left a watchword that we can well repeat: "There is no indispensable man".
Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.
We do not see faith, hope, and charity as unattainable ideals, but we use them as stout supports of a nation fighting the fight for freedom in a modern civilization.
Speech to the Democratic National Convention (1936)
Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
Today the whole world is divided: divided between human slavery and human freedom- between pagan brutality and the Christian ideal. We choose human freedom, which is the Christian ideal.
I don't mind telling you in confidence that I am keeping in fairly close touch with that admirable Italian gentleman.
If you treat people right they will treat you right — ninety percent of the time.
The Roosevelt I Knew (1946)
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
Liberalism becomes the protection for the far-sighted conservative.
Address at the Democratic State Convention, Syracuse, New York (1936)
Topics Franklin D. Roosevelt is quoted on
Works
Address at San Diego Exposition (1935, speech) · 5 Message to Congress on tax revision (1935) · 2 State of the Union address (1935, speech) · 5 Address at Chautauqua, New York (1936, speech) · 2 Address at Madison Square Garden (1936, speech) · 3 Address at the Democratic State Convention, Syracuse, New York (1936, speech) · 7 Speech to the Democratic National Convention (1936, speech) · 3 Message to Congress on establishing minimum wages and maximum hours (1937) · 1 Quarantine Speech (1937, speech) · 3 Address at the dedication of the memorial on the Gettysburg battlefield (1938, speech) · 2 Fireside Chat in the night before signing the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) · 7 Remark at the time of his first inauguration as quoted in The 168 days (1938) · 1 Address to the Governing Board of the Pan American Union (1939, speech) · 1 Response to the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) · 2 State of the Union Address — The Four Freedoms (1941, speech) · 3 History of American Political Thought (1943) · 1 State of the Union Address (1943, speech) · 2 State of the Union Address — Second Bill of Rights (1944, speech) · 8 Fourth inaugural address (1945, speech) · 4 The Roosevelt I Knew (1946) · 1