It is the habit of the unthinking to turn to the illusions of economic magic. These unhappy times call for the building of plans that put their faith once more in the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management.
I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust.
Economic diseases are highly communicable. It follows therefore that the economic health of every country is a proper matter of concern to all its neighbors, near or distant.
We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations far away. We have learned that we must live as men, not as ostriches, nor as dogs in the manger.
Coming to grips with the reality that our planet is not the only one harboring intelligent life the universe.
Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.
And while I am talking to you mothers and fathers, I give you one more assurance. I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.
In time of this grave national danger, when all excess income should go to win the war, no American citizen ought to have a net income, after he has paid his taxes, of more than $25,000 a year.
Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men.
The United States Constitution has proved itself the most marvelously elastic compilation of rules of government ever written.
We continue to recognize the greater ability of some to earn more than others. But we do assert that the ambition of the individual to obtain for him a proper security is an ambition to be preferred to the appetite for great wealth and great power.
There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.
Those newspapers of the nation which most loudly cried dictatorship against me would have been the first to justify the beginnings of dictatorship by somebody else.
Organized money hates me – and I welcome their hatred!
I love it – I just love it.
Put two or three men in positions of conflicting authority. This will force them to work at loggerheads, allowing you to be the ultimate arbiter.
I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.
If we can boondoggle ourselves out of this depression, that word is going to be enshrined in the hearts of the American people for years to come.
Whoever seeks to set one religion against another seeks to destroy all religion.