--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Peace on earth, good will toward men'…" description: "\"'Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live without that tru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conviction_peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-demo_9718.jpg" --- # 'Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must… ![“'Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live without that true religion which gives a nation a sense of justice and moral purpose.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conviction_peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-demo_9718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conviction_peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-demo_9718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_conviction_peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-demo_9718.jpg) > “'Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live without that true religion which gives a nation a sense of justice and moral purpose.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy needs a moral foundation that inspires justice and purpose, akin to a religion of goodwill. **In simple terms:** Democracy requires moral purpose. Key Takeaway Moral conviction sustains democracy. Themes democracy morality justice purpose religion metaphor Mood hopeful inspirational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - civic education - nation building Key Concepts social contract ethical foundation Practical Applications - crafting civic curricula - guiding political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - What moral principles should guide a democracy? - How does a sense of purpose affect civic engagement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Conviction Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction-democracy-357202/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Cling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-cling-357201/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-will/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-moral-357203/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-democracy-357200/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace on earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-on-earth/) [Presidential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [True religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-religion/) ## Related quotes > [I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-an-unshaken-conviction-that-democracy-can-never-be-undermined-2/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“This is not a new idea; this is the idea of the age of reason. This is the philosophy that guided the men that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/this-is-not-a-new-idea-this-is-the-idea-of-the-age-of-reason-this-is/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/when-a-candidate-for-public-office-faces-the-voters-he-does-not-face/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [To fill the human heart with compassion, mercy and universal love, which should radiate to all countries, nations and peoples of the world. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirpal-singh/to-fill-the-human-heart-with-compassion-mercy-and-universal-love/) [Kirpal Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirpal-singh/) > [The doctrine that might makes right has covered the earth with misery. While it crushes the weak, it also destroys the strong. Every deceit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-altgeld/the-doctrine-that-might-makes-right-has-covered-the-earth-with-misery/) [John Peter Altgeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-altgeld/) > [When you give up vengeance, make sure you are not giving up on justice. The line between the two is faint, unsteady, and fine...Vengeance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/when-you-give-up-vengeance-make-sure-you-are-not-giving-up-on-justice/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [Making the truth public is a form of justice. This is a moral universe and you've got to take account of the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/making-the-truth-public-is-a-form-of-justice-this-is-a-moral-universe/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Justice is a moral virtue, merely because it has that tendency to the good of mankind, and indeed is nothing but an artificial invention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/justice-is-a-moral-virtue-merely-because-it-has-that-tendency-to-the/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Democracy allows for A and B to band together to rip off C. This is not justice, but a moral outrage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/democracy-allows-for-a-and-b-to-band-together-to-rip-off-c-this-is/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) > [No one will escape justice. It's a moral and judicial duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovenel-moise/no-one-will-escape-justice-it-s-a-moral-and-judicial-duty/) [Jovenel Moise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovenel-moise/) > [Jail threats did not dissuade Martin Luther King - and intergenerational justice is a moral issue of comparable magnitude to civil rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/jail-threats-did-not-dissuade-martin-luther-king-and/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [ “But it is doubtless true, and evident from \[the\] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-from-the-scriptures-that-the/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“True religion, according to Romans, is about faith, hope, love; about the cross of Christ, and the love of God. It is about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/true-religion-according-to-romans-is-about-faith-hope-love-about-the/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [We need never refrain from asking anything of God simply on the ground that we think it impossible. God specializes in "impossible" things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-eugene-simcox/we-need-never-refrain-from-asking-anything-of-god-simply-on-the/) [Carroll Eugene Simcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-eugene-simcox/) > [True Religion has always been about being bold and staying real, and I felt dat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sexyy-red/true-religion-has-always-been-about-being-bold-and-staying-real-and-i/) [Sexyy Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sexyy-red/) ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [On the European Front the most important development of the past year has been the crushing offensive of the Great Armies of Russia...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/on-the-european-front-the-most-important-development-of-the-past-year/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-core-of-our-defense-is-the-faith-we-have-in-the-institutions-we/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [And while I am talking to you mothers and fathers, I give you one more assurance. I have said this before, but I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/and-while-i-am-talking-to-you-mothers-and-fathers-i-give-you-one-more/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More Conviction quotes > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [“Desert are you, deluge are you, in a crowd of fakes, only truth is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/desert-are-you-deluge-are-you-in-a-crowd-of-fakes-only-truth-is-you/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [ Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the \[American\] nation was going to go on growing-in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/beneath-everything-else-north-and-west-there-ran-a-profound-unvoiced/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [When you fight to give your family bread, that's not passion anymore: that's conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/when-you-fight-to-give-your-family-bread-that-s-not-passion-anymore/) [Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/) > [If you know the differences between an oak and a poplar, a spruce and a pine, down to the needles... you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-allen-lawson/if-you-know-the-differences-between-an-oak-and-a-poplar-a-spruce-and/) [T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/) > [We need the conviction to be able to think for ourselves and to take action outof our own sense of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/we-need-the-conviction-to-be-able-to-think-for-ourselves-and-to-take/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [The law of England has established trial by judge and jury in the conviction that it is the mode best calculated to ascertain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-law-of-england-has-established-trial-by-judge-and-jury-in-the/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [If you are going to flip something, you must have the courage of your convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/if-you-are-going-to-flip-something-you-must-have-the-courage-of-your/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [We embark unhesitatingly on the path, in a direction that is absolutely right and urgent, supported by everyone, in the knowledge that this path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/we-embark-unhesitatingly-on-the-path-in-a-direction-that-is/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) > [One needs to be slow to form convictions, but once formed they must be defended against the heaviest odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/one-needs-to-be-slow-to-form-convictions-but-once-formed-they-must-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 2,157 Conviction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. 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