Theodore Roosevelt actually said...

Even when we hear so much criticism of certain aspects of our public life and of certain of our public servants, criticism which I regret to...

To furnish in your lives such a realized high ideal is to do a great service to the country.

Thrice fortunate are you to whom it is given to lead lives of resolute endeavor for the achievement of lofty ideals.

If you did not do your work well this Republic would not endure beyond the span of the generation.