Political Quotes

Teddy Roosevelt: “The nation is nothing but the aggregate of the families within its border; and if the average man is not hard-working…”

On the record
The nation is nothing but the aggregate of the families within its border; and if the average man is not hard-working, just, and fearless in his dealings with those about him, then our average of public life will in the end be low; for the stream can rise no higher than its source.
Said by
Teddy Roosevelt
Republican · New York

Editor's note · Context

Roosevelt asserts that the quality of public life reflects the character of its citizens.

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More from Teddy Roosevelt

Oct 13, 1912

I wish to say that the Progressive Party is making its appeal to all our fellow citizens without any regard to their creed or to their birthplace.

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Oct 13, 1912

I don’t know anything about who the man was who shot me to-night.

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