Ability Quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt
“We continue to recognize the greater ability of some to earn more than others. But we do assert that the ambition of the individual to obtain for him a proper security is an ambition to be preferred to the appetite for great wealth and great power.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Second Inaugural Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1937
The quote contrasts personal security and modest ambition with the pursuit of excessive wealth and power, urging a preference for basic safety over greed.
In simple terms: Choose personal security over greed.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize basic security.
Themes
ethics
politics
economics
human nature
ambition
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal budgeting
- public policy
- career planning
- community development
Key Concepts
social contract
moral philosophy
wealth inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “proper security” mean for you?
- How can societies balance ambition with equity?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook systemic barriers that prevent equal access to security.
