“True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”
- January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945
- American
- Politician
- [Achievements]
- As president of the United States, he promoted economic recovery from the Great Depression with the New Deal policy
- He led the Allied powers to victory in World War II
- [Criticism]
- His hard-line policy toward Japan triggered the attack on Pearl Harbor
- He pushed for the forced internment policy of Japanese Americans due to racist feelings toward the Japanese
- He promoted the Manhattan Project, a plan to develop the atomic bomb
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Quote
“True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”
Explanation
In this quote, Franklin D. Roosevelt emphasizes the fundamental connection between economic security and personal freedom. He argues that for individuals to truly experience freedom, they must have the basic necessities of life, including economic independence, job security, and access to resources that allow them to live without fear of poverty or hunger. Roosevelt suggests that when people are deprived of these essentials, they become vulnerable to the appeal of authoritarian or dictatorial leaders who exploit economic instability and desperation for their own gain. His words highlight the idea that social and economic justice are not just matters of fairness, but crucial for the preservation of a democratic society.
Roosevelt’s statement also reflects his broader vision for a more equitable and secure society. During the Great Depression, millions of Americans were unemployed and struggling to survive, and Roosevelt understood that economic hardship could lead to political instability. As a result, his New Deal programs aimed to create economic security for all citizens, providing jobs, social safety nets, and reforms to protect workers and families from the kind of deprivation that could breed social unrest or make people more susceptible to extremist ideologies.
In modern times, this quote continues to resonate as economic insecurity and inequality remain key issues in many countries around the world. The ongoing struggle for universal healthcare, living wages, and social safety nets shows the continued relevance of Roosevelt’s belief that freedom and democracy are only sustainable when people have the economic independence to make their own choices without fear of falling into poverty. Roosevelt’s words remind us that true freedom is inseparable from economic security, and that without it, societies are at risk of sliding into forms of government that promise stability but at the cost of individual rights and freedoms.
