If we treat their great deeds as matters merely for idle boasting, not as spurring us on to effort, but as excusing us from effort, then we show that we are not worthy of our sires, of the people who went before us in the history of our land.
Roosevelt warns against complacency, urging that we should be inspired by past heroes to strive for excellence.
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The American people by a great plurality have conferred upon you the highest honor in their gift.
I absolutely agree with you that this matter is not one to be decided with any reference to the personal preferences or interests of any man, but purely from the standpoint of the interests of the people as a whole.
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