“There is much less need of genius or of any special brilliancy in the administration of our government than there is need of such homely virtues and qualities as common sense, honesty, and courage.”

Address in Albany, New York,
January 1895

“In international affairs this country should behave toward other nations exactly as an honorable private citizen behaves toward other private citizens.”

Speech in Chicago,
August 6, 1912

“Let us make it evident that we intend to do justice. Then let us make it equally evident that we will not tolerate injustice being done to us in return.”

Speech at Minnesota State Fair,
September 2, 1901

“The one vital factor in the permanent prosperity of the country is the high individual character of the average American worker.”

Annual Message, Washington, DC,
December 5, 1905

“We must see that this nation stands for strength and honesty both at home and abroad.”

Speech in Colorado Springs, CO,
1901

“Prosperity can never be created by law alone, although it is easy enough to destroy it by mischievous laws.”

First annual message, Washington DC,
December 3, 1901

“We must strive in good faith to play a great part in the world. We cannot avoid meeting great issues. All that we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them well or ill.”

Speech in Chicago, IL,
April 10, 1899

“Facility of cheap transportation is an essential in our modern civilization.”

Speech in Memphis,
October 4, 1907

“No country will accomplish very much for the world at large unless it elevates itself.”

The Bachelor of Arts,
March, 1886

“Let us be true to our democratic ideal, not by the utterance of cheap platitudes, not by windy oratory, but by living our lives in such a manner as to show that democracy can be efficient.”

Fear God and Take Your Own Part,
1916

“The good citizen must be a good citizen of his own country first before he can with advantage be a good citizen of the world at large.”

Speech at the University of Berlin,
May 12, 1910

“We fight for our own rights. We fight for the rights of mankind… The free people who govern themselves are lined up against the governments which deny freedom to their people.”

Speech at Stock Yards Pavilion, Chicago
April 28, 1917