No one can succeed who attempts to go in on any other basis; above all, no one can succeed if he goes in feeling that, instead of merely doing his duty, he is conferring a favor upon the community, and is therefore warranted in adopting an attitude of condescension toward his fellows.
Roosevelt warns that success in public life is impossible for those who approach it with condescension, believing they are bestowing a favor rather than fulfilling a duty.
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More from Teddy Roosevelt
A broken promise is bad enough in private life. It is worse in the field of politics.
Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
The good citizen will demand liberty for himself, and as a matter of pride, he will see to it that others receive the liberty which he thus claims as his own.
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