Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) was the 32nd president of the United States. Widely known by his initials, FDR, Roosevelt is one of the most admired leaders of the United States.
FDR led the United States during some of its most challenging times, both domestically and internationally. He is most renowned for his socio-economic policies to resolve the Great Depression, his decision to enter the war after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the eventual victory of the Allied forces in World War II.
FDR is the longest-serving president of the United States. He died three months into his fourth term in office—just weeks before the surrender of Germany in World War II. Time Magazine named Franklin Roosevelt as a runner-up (along with Mahatma Gandhi) to the Person of the Century recognition.
FDR was well-known for his warm-heartedness and humility. He triumphed over a physical disability—at age 39, he suffered a polio attack that practically paralyzed his legs and confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
FDR is also legendary for his collections of stamps, coins, medals, paintings, models of various artifacts, walking sticks, paintings and photographs of naval vessels, stuffed animals, etc. He was the first president to set up a Presidential Library.
FDR was married to Eleanor Roosevelt and was a distant cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, the 29th president of the United States.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Industrial combination is not wrong in itself. The danger lies in taking government into partnership.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Government
The United States Constitution has proved itself the most marvelously elastic compilation of rules of government ever written.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
The frontier of America is on the Rhine.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
On this tenth day of June, 1940, the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Self-Discovery
In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Freedom, Independence
Eternal truths will be neither true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Discovery, Fresh
We may make mistakes—but they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principles.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Mistakes, Risk
The first theory is that if we make the rich richer, somehow they will let a part of their prosperity trickle down to the rest of us. The second theory was the theory that if we make the average of mankind comfortable and secure, their prosperity will rise upward through the ranks.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Lord’s Prayer is 66 words, the Gettysburg Address is 286 words, there are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence, but government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Government, Just for Fun
A great man left a watchword that we can well repeat: There is no indispensable man.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Work
Is the United States going to decide, are the people of this country going to decide that their Federal Government shall in the future have no right under any implied power or any court-approved power to enter into a solution of a national economic problem, but that that national economic problem must be decided only by the States? We thought we were solving it, and now it has been thrown right straight in our faces. We have been relegated to the horse-and-buggy definition of interstate commerce.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Government includes the art of formulating a policy, and using the political technique to attain so much of that policy as will receive general support; persuading, leading, sacrificing, teaching always, because the greatest duty of any statesman is to educate.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Service
Forests are the “lungs” of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Wilderness
But while they prate of economic laws, men and women are starving. We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Economics, Economy
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.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Economics
Not only our future economic soundness but the very soundness of our democratic institutions depends on the determination of our government to give employment to idle men.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Unemployment, Work
The value of love will always be stronger than the value of hate.. Any nation or group of nations which employs hatred eventually is torn to pieces by hatred…
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Love
Peace, like charity, begins at home.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Peace
Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Vanity
Confidence… thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Confidence
I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Money
The moment a mere numerical superiority by either states or voters in this country proceeds to ignore the needs and desires of the minority, and for their own selfish purpose or advancement, hamper or oppress that minority, or debar them in any way from equal privileges and equal rights—that moment will mark the failure of our constitutional system.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Communication
A radical is a man with both feet firmly planted — in the air. A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. A reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards. A liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest — at the command — of his head.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Politics, Fanaticism, Politicians, Conservatives
We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religionsbound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality. Whoever seeks to set one nationality against another, seeks to degrade all nationalities. Whoever seeks to set one race against another seeks to enslave all races. Whoever seeks to set one religion against another, seeks to destroy all religion.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Prejudice
Be sincere, be brief; be seated.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Speakers, Speaking
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.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Be sincere. Be brief. Be Seated.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Perseverance, Persistence, Endurance, Resolve
More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars – yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman and thoroughly impractical method of settling the differences between governments.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: War
The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it; if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Action, Common Sense
I sometimes think that the saving grace of America lies in the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans are possessed of two great qualities- a sense of humor and a sense of proportion.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: America
History proves that dictatorships do not grow out of strong and successful governments, but out of weak and helpless ones. If by democratic methods people get a government strong enough to protect them from fear and starvation, their democracy succeeds; but if they do not, they grow impatient. Therefore, the only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over its government.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Government
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression gainst any neighbor—anywhere in the world.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Freedom, Security
We defend and we build a way of life, not for America alone, but for all mankind.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Topics: Power
Be sincere, be brief, be seated.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
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