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Two Chinese coolies were arguing heatedly in the midst of a crowd. A stranger expressed surprise that no blows were being struck. His Chinese friend replied: "The man who strikes first admits that his ideas have given out."

— Franklin D. Roosevelt Fireside Chat in the night before signing the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938)

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More quotes by Franklin D. Roosevelt

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)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Franklin D. Roosevelt (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.