49 President Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes (FAMOUS)

Top 11 Most Famous Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes to Inspire You (DESTROY YOUR FEAR)

We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon. — We have always held to the **hope**, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. — The only thing we have to **fear** is fear itself.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear. — **Courage** is not the absence of **fear**, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.

Freedom of speech is of no use to a man who has nothing to say and freedom of worship is of no use to a man who has lost his God. — **Freedom** of speech is of no use to a man who has nothing to say and freedom of worship is of no use to a man who has lost his God.

We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings. — We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by **nature**. They are made by human beings.

“We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions-bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality. Whoever seeks to set one nationality against another, seeks to degrade all nationalities.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. — **Happiness** lies not in the mere possession of **money**; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. — We cannot always build the **future** for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.

Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another. But by all means, try something.

It isn't sufficient just to want—you've got to ask yourself what you are going to do to get the things you want. — It isn’t sufficient just to want—you’ve got to ask yourself what you are going to do to get the things you want.

38 Best President Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes on Life, Immigration, and Politics

“Let us not be afraid to help each other—let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.

Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough. — Human kindness has never weakened the **stamina** or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.

Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth. — Repetition does not transform a lie into a **truth**.

There are as many opinions as there are experts.

“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice… the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. — People acting together as a group can **accomplish** things which no individual acting alone could ever **hope** to bring about.

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves - and the only way they could do this is by not voting. — Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves – and the only way they could do this is by not voting.

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.

I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.

I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm. — I think we consider too much the **good luck** of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.

Confidence… thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live. — **Confidence**… thrives on **honesty**, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.

“If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships – the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Favor comes because for a brief moment in the great space of human change and progress some general human purpose finds in him a satisfactory embodiment. — Favor comes because for a brief moment in the great space of human **change** and progress some general human **purpose** finds in him a satisfactory embodiment.

If you treat people right they will treat you right—ninety percent of the time.

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.

We… would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.

“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.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.

We have always known that heedless self interest was bad morals, we now know that it is bad economics.

Self-interest is the enemy of all true affection.

The virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.

Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education. — Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is **education**.

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.

“The True conservative seeks to protect the system of private property and free enterprise by correcting such injustices and inequalities as arise from it. The most serious threat to our institutions comes from those who refuse to face the need for change. Liberalism becomes the protection for the far-sighted conservative.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.

Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself.

Democracy alone, of all forms of government, enlists the full force of men's enlightened will. — Democracy alone, of all forms of government, enlists the full force of men’s enlightened will.

We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nests.

The truth is found when men are free to pursue it. — The **truth** is found when men are free to pursue it.

Peace, like charity, begins at home. — **Peace**, like charity, begins at home.

As a nation, we may take pride in the fact that we are softhearted; but we cannot afford to be soft-headed.

This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. — This great Nation will **endure** as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Short Biography

Born on 30 January 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and the only president elected to office four times.

Roosevelt entered Harvard University in 1900 and graduated in 1903 with an A.B. degree in History. In 1907, Roosevelt passed the New York City Bar exam.

In college, Franklin Roosevelt was deeply inspired by his cousin, Theodore Roosevelt, and decided to follow in his footsteps.

Roosevelt decided to run for Vice President in 1920 with James M. Cox running for President.

After losing the 1920 election Roosevelt returned to New York in 1921 and continued practicing law for Fidelity and Deposit Company. In August of the same year, he fell ill during a family vacation and became paralyzed from the waist down.

After 3 years as New York City governor, Roosevelt was sworn into the presidency on March 4, 1933.

As president, Roosevelt contributed greatly to alleviating the plight of the American people during the Great Depression. On March 9, 1933, Roosevelt signed the Emergency Banking Act, affectively bringing stability to the American economy.

In 1938, Franklin Roosevelt enacted the Fair Labor Standards Act, which introduced the 40-hour work week, minimum wage, and prohibited child labor.

Further Reading:

Franklin Roosevelt’s Economic Policies and Accomplishments – Thebalance.com
FDR: The President Who Made America Into a Superpower – U.S. News
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Impact and Legacy – The Miller Center
5 Leadership Lessons from FDR – Vistage

Here are the best Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes so you can be empowered to fight for change and social justice for a better society.

(MUST READ)

**Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life**

Also read:

Top 11 Most Famous Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes to Inspire You (DESTROY YOUR FEAR)

38 Best President Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotes on Life, Immigration, and Politics

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Short Biography

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