I believe that in every country the people themselves are more peaceably and liberally inclined than their governments.
Interpretation
People are generally more peaceful and open-minded than the governments that represent them.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's quote suggests that the common people of any nation are inherently more inclined towards peace and liberal values compared to the often restrictive and authoritarian nature of their governments. This highlights the potential disconnect between the population's desires and the actions of those in power, advocating for a view that emphasizes the goodwill of individuals over the decisions made by political leaders.
In practice
During a discussion on international relations, one might say this quote to highlight the gap between citizens and their governments.
There has been one persistent theme through all Axis propaganda. This theme has been that Americans are admittedly rich, that Americans have considerable industrial power - but that Americans are soft and decadent, that they cannot and will not unite and work and fight. ... Let them tell that to the Marines!
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.
A war of ideas can no more be won without books than a naval war can be won without ships. Books, like ships, have the toughest armor, the longest cruising range, and mount the most powerful guns.
Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
A world turned into a stereotype, a society converted into a regiment, a life translated into a routine, make it difficult for either art or artists to survive. Crush individuality in society and you crush art as well. Nourish the conditions of a free life and you nourish the arts, too.
I think that wealthy white people would like to have a country that resembles the Fifties, when all the minorities were tucked away in ghettos and paid in very low wages but on the surface it was very bright and shiny and free and the rest of the world would look on it longingly.
I would like you to teach [the orcs] civilised behaviour," said Ladyship coldly. He appeared to consider this. "Yes of course, I think that would be quite possible," he said. "And who would you send to teach the humans?
Feeling insignificant because the universe is large has exactly the same logic as feeling inadequate for not being a cow.
If you live today, you breath in nihilism ... it's the gas you breathe. If I hadn't had the Church to fight it with or to tell me the necessity of fighting it, I would be the stinkingest logical positivist you ever saw right now.
The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.
Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule.
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