--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essence of our struggle is that men…" description: "\"“The essence of our struggle is that men shall be free.”\" — Franklin D. Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_adversity_the-essence-of-our-struggle-is-that-men_1233655.jpg" --- # The essence of our struggle is that men shall be free. ![“The essence of our struggle is that men shall be free.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_adversity_the-essence-of-our-struggle-is-that-men_1233655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_adversity_the-essence-of-our-struggle-is-that-men_1233655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_adversity_the-essence-of-our-struggle-is-that-men_1233655.jpg) > ““The essence of our struggle is that men shall be free.”” [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 fight is about securing liberty for all people. **In simple terms:** Freedom is the core goal of the struggle. Key Takeaway Defend liberty for everyone. Themes freedom struggle rights Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - civil rights activism - political campaigning - legal reform - education on liberties Key Concepts political philosophy human rights Questions to Reflect On - What does freedom mean to you personally? - How can societies protect liberty against threats? A Different Perspective Freedom can be limited by opposing powers and internal divisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [Modern politics is, at bottom, a struggle not of men but of forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/modern-politics-is-at-bottom-a-struggle-not-of-men-but-of-forces/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [American politics is a struggle, not of men but of forces. The men become every year more and more creatures of force, massed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/american-politics-is-a-struggle-not-of-men-but-of-forces-the-men/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Modern politics is, at bottom, a struggle not of men but of forces. The men become every year more and more creatures of force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/modern-politics-is-at-bottom-a-struggle-not-of-men-but-of-forces-the/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“That was the trouble with California in the 1840's. The life was too easy, there was no necessity for struggle, and men must struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/that-was-the-trouble-with-california-in-the-1840-s-the-life-was-too/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [The public schools shall be free from sectarian influences and, above all, free from any attitude of hostility to the adherents of any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-public-schools-shall-be-free-from-sectarian-influences-and-above/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Be who you really are and you shall be free. Your true I is God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan/be-who-you-really-are-and-you-shall-be-free-your-true-i-is-god/) [Stefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan/) > [A double-edged sword One side destroys One releases I am your Gordian knot Will you release or destroy me? Follow truth and you shall:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-double-edged-sword-one-side-destroys-one-releases-i-am-your-gordian/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If there is no other world and there is no fruit and ripening of actions well done or ill done, then here and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-there-is-no-other-world-and-there-is-no-fruit-and-ripening-of/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Make me a captive, Lord, And then I shall be free; Force me to render up my sword, And I shall conqueror be. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matheson/make-me-a-captive-lord-and-then-i-shall-be-free-force-me-to-render-up/) [George Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matheson/) > [He who gives away shall have real gain. He who subdues himself shall be free; he shall cease to be a slave of passions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/he-who-gives-away-shall-have-real-gain-he-who-subdues-himself-shall/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“You can burn down my churches. But I shall be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-and-garfunkel/you-can-burn-down-my-churches-but-i-shall-be-free/) [Simon and Garfunkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-and-garfunkel/) > [When the skies and the oceans are clean again. Then we shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/when-the-skies-and-the-oceans-are-clean-again-then-we-shall-be-free/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/our-contest-is-not-only-whether-we-ourselves-shall-be-free-but/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## 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 Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The essence of our struggle is that men shall be free.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. 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