Against them we see, it is true, masses of voters who both know how to, and do, strive for righteousness; but we see also very many others in whom the capacity for self-government seems to have atrophied.
In an essay on the strenuous life, this passage observes a decline in the capacity for self-government among many voters in contemporary civic life.
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More from Teddy Roosevelt
Character must show itself in the man's performance both of the duty he owes himself and of the duty he owes the State.
A broken promise is bad enough in private life. It is worse in the field of politics.
Like all other good citizens, I accept the result with entire good humor and contentment.
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.
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