The Wisdom of FDR by Dagobert D. Runes & Franklin D. Roosevelt

Author:Dagobert D. Runes & Franklin D. Roosevelt [Runes, Dagobert D. & Roosevelt, Franklin D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General, United States
ISBN: 9780806514628
Google: gCeXLQmSsjQC
Goodreads: 2466347
Publisher: Citadel Press
Published: 1993-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Government with a Soul

It is always a good thing to look beneath the surface of things, to look into men's hearts. Do they really mean what they say—or are they the kind that profess great devotion to the cause of bettering the lot of their fellow countrymen, and, when the time for action comes, find all kinds of reasons why they cannot support the action proposed?

In the same way we find others who seek office, sincerely or otherwise, on perfectly impossible pledges and platforms—people with panaceas for reforming the world overnight—people who are not practical in an age that must be and can be both practical and progressive. Theodore Roosevelt was perhaps a bit rough in his language when he referred to such people as “the lunatic fringe.” Of course, strictly speaking, they are not lunatics, but in many cases a little push would shove them over the line.

During these past years the people of this Nation have definitely said “yes”—with no “but” about it—to the old Biblical question, “Am I my brother's keeper?” In these years I sense a growing devotion to the teachings of the Scriptures, to the quickening of religion, to a greater religion, to a greater willingness on the part of the individual to help his neighbor and to live less unto and for himself alone.

America needs a government of constant progress along liberal lines. America requires that this progress be sane and that this progress be honest. America calls for government with a soul.

7-9-1938

• • •

The problems which we all face—the problems of so-called economics, the problems that are called monetary problems, the problems of unemployment, the problems of industry and agriculture—we shall not succeed in solving unless the people of this country hold the spiritual values of the country just as high as they do the economic values.

9-29-1933

• • •

Without spiritual armor we cannot hope to win the war. Without spiritual armor we cannot be worthy of the victory our men are purchasing at a great cost on the battle-field. Without spiritual armor we cannot hope to play an honorable and responsible part in the establishment of world peace.

6-31-1943

• • •

All of recorded history bears witness that the human race has made true advancement only as it has appreciated spiritual values.

5-4-1941

• • •

Our strength is measured not only in terms of the might of our armaments. It is measured not only in terms of the horse-power of our machines.

The true measure of our strength lies deeply imbedded in the social and economic justice of the system in which we live.

For you can build ships and tanks and planes and guns galore; but they will not be enough. You must place behind them an invincible faith in the institutions which they have been built to defend.

10-2-1940

• • •

For more than three centuries we Americans have been building on this continent a free society, a society in which the promise of the human spirit may find fulfillment. Commingled here are the blood and genius of all the peoples of the world who have sought this promise.

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