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
The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A good citizen contributes to society and takes responsibility for their actions.
This quote emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and active participation in society. Theodore Roosevelt highlights that a good citizen should not only be able to support themselves but also contribute positively to the community, reinforcing the idea that civic duty involves effort and commitment from each individual for the greater good.
Themes
CitizenshipResponsibilityCommunityServiceLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
During a town hall meeting, a citizen quoted Roosevelt to inspire more community engagement.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
All quotes βIt 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.
Theodore RooseveltRead
Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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
Similar quotes
Some legislators only wish to vengeance against a particular enemy. Others only look out for themselves. They devote very little time on the consideration of any public issue. They think that no harm will come from their neglect. They act as if it is always the business of somebody else to look after this or that. When this selfish notion is entertained by all, the commonwealth slowly begins to decay.
ThucydidesRead
Others may fashion more smoothly images of bronze (I for one believe it), evoke living faces from marble, plead causes better, trace with a wand the wanderings of the heavens and foretell the rising of stars. But you, Roman, remember to rule the peoples with power (these will be your arts); impose the habit of peace, spare the vanquished and war down the proud!
VirgilRead
Think well before selecting your leader, and when you have selected him, follow him. But in case you find his policy detrimental to your interests, kick him out.
Muhammad Ali JinnahRead
Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.
Napoleon BonaparteRead
If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.
Vince LombardiRead
We need leaders, we ourselves need to lead from a place that has the audacity to believe that we ourselves can extend the fundamental assumption that all men are created equal to every, man woman and child on this planet. And we need the humility to recognize that we cannot do it alone.
Jacqueline NovogratzRead