Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (30 January 1882 – 12 April 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States. Elected to four terms in office, he served from 1933 to 1945, and is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms. He was husband to Eleanor Roosevelt.

Found 68 thoughts of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Self-interest is the enemy of all true affection.

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

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.

Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.

Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.

The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough to those who have little.

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

Never before have we had so little time in which to do so much.

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

It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.

The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.

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

What this country needs is a good five cent cigar.

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

I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues.

We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way. The third is freedom from want?. The fourth is freedom from fear.

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.

We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it doesn't turn out, we modify it.

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. - former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

The hopes of the Republic cannot forever tolerate either undeserved poverty or self-serving wealth.

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.

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

Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.