--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The lessons of history, confirmed by the…" description: "\"The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg" --- # The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence… ![“The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the…” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg) > “The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of a sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America.” [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. Reliance on continual aid weakens personal responsibility and erodes national character, likened to a narcotic that dulls the spirit. **In simple terms:** Constant aid harms independence and national strength. Key Takeaway Limit aid to empower self‑reliance. Themes responsibility government national identity self‑reliance policy independence Mood cautious reflective critical Type political philosophical policy When to use this quote - welfare reform - community development - education programs - disaster response - economic recovery Key Concepts social contract psychology of dependency public policy civic virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance aid with fostering independence? - What safeguards prevent aid from becoming a dependency? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on aid can create complacency and reduce innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Continued Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continued-dependence-3024730/) [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [Dependence Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence-relief-3024731/) [Destroyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyers/) [Destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destructive/) [Destructive National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destructive-national-3024732/) [Disintegration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disintegration/) [Disintegration Fundamentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disintegration-fundamentally-3024729/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Fiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiber/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-spirit/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Moral fiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-fiber/) [Narcotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotics/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual Disintegration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-disintegration-3024728/) [Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Violation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violation/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Welfare programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare-programs/) ## Related quotes > [Continued dependence on relief inducers a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/continued-dependence-on-relief-inducers-a-spiritual-and-moral/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [ The way the \[welfare\] programs are organized, poor people are only paid to do things that are counter-productive - such as breaking up their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-way-the-welfare-programs-are-organized-poor-people-are-only-paid/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that 62 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants use some form of cash or non-cash welfare programs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-center-for-immigration-studies-estimates-that-62-percent-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We must end welfare programs that devalue men and spoil women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/we-must-end-welfare-programs-that-devalue-men-and-spoil-women/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Welfare programs as instruments of manipulation ultimately serve the end of conquest. They act as an anesthetic, distracting the oppressed from the true causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/welfare-programs-as-instruments-of-manipulation-ultimately-serve-the/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [This is not to say that the government should confiscate from the "haves" and bestow upon the "have-nots", beyond the requirements of a compassionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/this-is-not-to-say-that-the-government-should-confiscate-from-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Government welfare programs contribute to the disintegration of poor families. They make women and children dependent on government; dependent for food, for clothing, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-f-sennholz/government-welfare-programs-contribute-to-the-disintegration-of-poor/) [Hans F. Sennholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-f-sennholz/) > [Cliven Bundy is breaking the law. He's breaking the law and he wants all of us to pay for his cattle while he's ranting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/cliven-bundy-is-breaking-the-law-he-s-breaking-the-law-and-he-wants/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [ In some instances even certain social services that normally were supplied, or pre-empted by the state. Take the United States, the \[Ronald\] Reagan administration… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/in-some-instances-even-certain-social-services-that-normally-were/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Experts and the educated elite have replaced what worked with what sounded good. Society was far more civilized before they took over our schools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/experts-and-the-educated-elite-have-replaced-what-worked-with-what/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The lesson is obvious. True missionaries concentrate on doing the work of Mark 16:15 rather than operating social-welfare programs. True missionaries serve the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-p-yohannan/the-lesson-is-obvious-true-missionaries-concentrate-on-doing-the-work/) [K.P. Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-p-yohannan/) > [I think of these imperial adventures like welfare programs; you start them with all good intentions, they never end, they go on forever and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/i-think-of-these-imperial-adventures-like-welfare-programs-you-start/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [ If you didn't auction the \[CO2\] permits, it would represent the largest corporate welfare program that has ever been enacted in the history of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-orszag/if-you-didn-t-auction-the-co2-permits-it-would-represent-the-largest/) [Peter R. Orszag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-orszag/) > [And the same goes for government benefits. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that 62 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants use some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/and-the-same-goes-for-government-benefits-the-center-for-immigration/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Republicans ... are conservatives who think it would be best if we faced the fact that people are no damned good. They think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/republicans-are-conservatives-who-think-it-would-be-best-if-we-faced/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of a sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the-evidence-immediately-before/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the-evidence-immediately-before/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the_1119894.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued…” — 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 lessons of history, confirmed by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the-evidence-immediately-before/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-lessons-of-history-confirmed-by-the-evidence-immediately-before/#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 } } ] } ```