“In our personal ambitions we are individualists. But in our seeking for economic and political progress as a nation, we all go up or else all go down as one people.”
- 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
Quote
“In our personal ambitions we are individualists. But in our seeking for economic and political progress as a nation, we all go up or else all go down as one people.”
Explanation
In this quote, Franklin D. Roosevelt highlights the tension between individualism and collective responsibility. He acknowledges that in personal pursuits, people are often driven by their own ambitions and desires, acting as individualists. However, when it comes to the broader goals of economic and political progress for a nation, Roosevelt asserts that unity is essential. He stresses that the prosperity and well-being of a nation cannot be achieved if some parts of the population rise while others fall behind. In a truly democratic society, the success or failure of one individual or group is intertwined with the success or failure of the entire nation, and we all share in the consequences of our collective actions. This vision calls for a shared commitment to the common good, where progress must benefit everyone or it ultimately fails to create a strong, just society.
Roosevelt’s words were particularly relevant during the Great Depression, a time of deep economic hardship when the disparities between the wealthy and the poor were widening. His New Deal policies were designed to ensure that economic recovery and political reforms would not just benefit the rich or the powerful, but would lift all citizens. Roosevelt believed that the nation could not thrive unless economic justice and social equity were prioritized, ensuring that prosperity and opportunity were available to all, not just a select few.
In the modern context, this quote still resonates in discussions about economic inequality, universal healthcare, education, and other policies that impact the collective well-being. It serves as a reminder that national progress is not measured solely by the success of the wealthy or powerful, but by how well the country lifts up all its citizens. Whether addressing income inequality, job creation, or social welfare, Roosevelt’s words encourage us to think of society as interconnected, where true success comes when we all rise together.
