Four-fifths of all our troubles would disappear, if we would only sit down and keep still.

They criticize me for harping on the obvious; if all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.

The fundamental precept of liberty is toleration.

Unless we lay our course in accordance with this principle, the great power for good in the world with which we have been intrusted by a Divine Providence will be turned to a power for evil.

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Public debt [is] a burden on all the people.

Theodore Roosevelt was always getting himself in hot water by talking before he had to commit himself upon issues not well-defined.