We have faith that future generations will know here, in the middle of the twentieth century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance, and slavery, and war.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of unity and collective action against ignorance and intolerance.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's quote reflects a hopeful vision for the future, where the efforts of well-intentioned individuals in the 20th century will lead to progress and the overcoming of societal evils like ignorance, intolerance, slavery, and war. It highlights a belief in the power of collective human action to effect meaningful change and the responsibility of current generations to pave the way for a better world.
In practice
In a graduation speech, one could use this quote to inspire students to work together for a better future.
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.
The more we bestow the richer we become.
Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle.
Complete masculinity and stupidity are often indistinguishable.
One-half of the ills of life come because men are unwilling to sit down quietly for thirty minutes to think through all the possible consequences of their acts.
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.
History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.
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