--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The chief problem is, of course, whether…" description: "\"The chief problem is, of course, whether the marching of the general spirit of things is heading consciously or sub- consciously toward an idea of exte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg" --- # The chief problem is, of course, whether the marching of… ![“The chief problem is, of course, whether the marching of the general spirit of things is heading consciously or sub- consciously toward an idea of extension of boundaries.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg) > “The chief problem is, of course, whether the marching of the general spirit of things is heading consciously or sub- consciously toward an idea of extension of boundaries.” [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. The quote reflects concern about whether societal progress is guided consciously or unconsciously toward expanding limits. **In simple terms:** Concern about conscious vs unconscious direction of societal expansion. Key Takeaway Stay aware of the forces shaping societal growth. Themes progress consciousness boundary expansion Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - policy making - education reform - community organizing Key Concepts social dynamics collective mindset future planning Questions to Reflect On - Are we steering progress intentionally? - What mechanisms ensure conscious direction? A Different Perspective Unconscious drift can lead to unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Militarism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militarism/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Until you can appreciate the greatness of opportunity in the small things—and I’m not just talking about sex—you won’t be able to really appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-k-mckellar/until-you-can-appreciate-the-greatness-of-opportunity-in-the-small/) [Lauren K. McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-k-mckellar/) > [Education has now become the chief problem of the world, its one holy cause. The nations that see this will survive, and those that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/education-has-now-become-the-chief-problem-of-the-world-its-one-holy/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [The investor's chief problem - and even his worst enemy - is likely to be himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-investor-s-chief-problem-and-even-his-worst-enemy-is-likely-to-be/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [ \[D\]rilling and arming, when carried on on a national scale, excite whole populations to frenzies which end in war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/d-rilling-and-arming-when-carried-on-on-a-national-scale-excite-whole/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [You cannot organize civilization around the core of militarism and at the same time expect reason to control human destinies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/you-cannot-organize-civilization-around-the-core-of-militarism-and-at/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Go for the moon. If you don't get it, you'll still be heading for a star. Happiness lies not in the mere possession of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/go-for-the-moon-if-you-don-t-get-it-you-ll-still-be-heading-for-a/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-in-rank-and-file-has-already-earned/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [We got a wonderful present from Stalin and Hitler that they never meant to give us. We were immune for 60 years or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/we-got-a-wonderful-present-from-stalin-and-hitler-that-they-never/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [We have a very large military community - veterans and others - who basically do believe in the militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/we-have-a-very-large-military-community-veterans-and-others-who/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > [...The greatest bulwark of capitalism is militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-greatest-bulwark-of-capitalism-is-militarism/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“We have no managed to acquire bases all over the world—islands distant as the Australian Archipelago which President Roosevelt seized in 1938 without so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/we-have-no-managed-to-acquire-bases-all-over-the-world-islands/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Where else could one find such a perfect combination of American values -- racism, militarism, capitalism -- all packaged in one 'ideal' symbol, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/where-else-could-one-find-such-a-perfect-combination-of-american/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Nationalism and jingoism—essential corollaries of militarism—are also systemic imperatives because they divide the global working classes, and bind them to the elites oppressing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-derber/nationalism-and-jingoism-essential-corollaries-of-militarism-are-also/) [Charles Derber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-derber/) ## 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/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [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/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More Boundaries quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [While the world of reality has its limits, the world of your imagination is without boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/while-the-world-of-reality-has-its-limits-the-world-of-your/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [As a kid, in the Runaways, I would see the interviewers start to ask about our personal lives and what we did — and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/as-a-kid-in-the-runaways-i-would-see-the-interviewers-start-to-ask/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [Understanding science and pushing the boundaries of science is what makes me immensely satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/understanding-science-and-pushing-the-boundaries-of-science-is-what/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [“Let us not subside into a single mandatory way of thinking or feeling, immersed by a spirit of self-gratification. But let’s dig into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-us-not-subside-into-a-single-mandatory-way-of-thinking-or-feeling/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [The question of boundaries is a major question of the Jewish people because the Jews are the great experts of crossing boundaries. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/the-question-of-boundaries-is-a-major-question-of-the-jewish-people/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [Working against a restriction - for me - often produces greater things than getting rid of all boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lord/working-against-a-restriction-for-me-often-produces-greater-things/) [Jon Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lord/) > [That's what all art's about - a sense of moving away from boundaries that you can't in real life. Like a dancer is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/that-s-what-all-art-s-about-a-sense-of-moving-away-from-boundaries/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) [Browse all 2,012 Boundaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The chief problem is, of course, whether the marching of the general spirit of things is heading consciously or sub- consciously toward an idea of extension of boundaries.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-the-marching-of-the-general/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boundaries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-the-marching-of-the-general/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e42/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_boundaries_the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-t_1666466.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The chief problem is, of course, whether the marching of the general spirit of things is heading consciously…” — Franklin D. Roosevelt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The chief problem is, of course,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-the-marching-of-the-general/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-chief-problem-is-of-course-whether-the-marching-of-the-general/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```