Teddy Roosevelt on Democracy

By: Lowell
Published On: 5/29/2005 1:00:00 AM


Strolling on beautiful Theodore Roosevelt Island yesterday, my wife and I stopped to read the inscriptions on the stone tablet memorials to one of our greatest Presidents.  We were struck -- especially given the current state of our Democracy and the events of the past few weeks and months -- by the quotes listed below.  These were words to live by when Teddy Roosevelt was President a century ago.  They are at least as relevant today, in the age of "nuclear options," disrespect for the rule of law, assaults on our personal liberties, war based on lies, and right-wing extremism of all kinds.


"Ours is a government of liberty by, through, and under the law." (Speech at Spokane, WA, May 26, 1903)

"A great democracy has got to be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy." (The New Nationalism, 1910)

"Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive." (Miscellaneous Writings, c. 1890s)

"In popular government results worth having can be achieved only by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense." (Address at Harvard Union, Feb. 23, 1907)


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