--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principle on which this country was…" description: "\"The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; America..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_americanism_the-principle-on-which-this-country-was_1944232.jpg" --- # The principle on which this country was founded and by… ![“The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_americanism_the-principle-on-which-this-country-was_1944232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_americanism_the-principle-on-which-this-country-was_1944232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_americanism_the-principle-on-which-this-country-was_1944232.jpg) > “The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.” [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. American identity is defined by shared values and ideals, not by ancestry or race. **In simple terms:** America is about ideas, not race. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive civic values. Themes national identity democracy equality citizenship Mood hopeful reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - education - community building Key Concepts civic philosophy social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can we strengthen shared values? - In what ways do race narratives persist? A Different Perspective Excludes economic disparities that affect identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americanism/) [Americanism Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americanism-matter-3115728/) [Ancestry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestry/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Governed Americanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governed-americanism-3115726/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Americanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-americanism-3115727/) [Heart and mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-mind/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind and heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-heart/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Principle Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-country-3115729/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) ## Related quotes > [Americanism is not a matter of skin or color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/americanism-is-not-a-matter-of-skin-or-color/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > [Secession is a deeply American principle. This country was born through secession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/secession-is-a-deeply-american-principle-this-country-was-born/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The essential qualities of a true Pan Americanism must be the same as those which constitute a good neighbor; namely, mutual understanding, and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-essential-qualities-of-a-true-pan-americanism-must-be-the-same-as/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have absolutely no doubt that there is an intense anti-Americanism in all Western Europe, and I think the reason for that is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/i-have-absolutely-no-doubt-that-there-is-an-intense-anti-americanism/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Americanism demands loyalty to the teacher and respect for his lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bainbridge-colby/americanism-demands-loyalty-to-the-teacher-and-respect-for-his-lesson/) [Bainbridge Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bainbridge-colby/) > [Without an ugly America to loathe, there is no automatic esteem to receive. Thus liberalism's unrelenting current of anti-Americanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/without-an-ugly-america-to-loathe-there-is-no-automatic-esteem-to/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [I am not a Republican, nor a Democrat, nor an American, and got sense enough to know it. I am one of the 22…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-am-not-a-republican-nor-a-democrat-nor-an-american-and-got-sense/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Given the level of anti-Americanism in the world, given the level of frustration with the United States throughout the Muslim world, you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-kaplan/given-the-level-of-anti-americanism-in-the-world-given-the-level-of/) [Robert D. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-kaplan/) > [Whether one traces his Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the steerage, is not half so important as whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/whether-one-traces-his-americanism-back-three-centuries-to-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [You don't know Mexico, man. You have trivialized Mexico. You are a fool about Mexico if you think that Mexico is five blocks. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/you-don-t-know-mexico-man-you-have-trivialized-mexico-you-are-a-fool/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [Louis Brandeis started off by embracing the Theodore Roosevelt notion that hyphenated Americanism was unpatriotic. You couldn't have dual loyalties. But then he thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-rosen/louis-brandeis-started-off-by-embracing-the-theodore-roosevelt-notion/) [Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-rosen/) > [“I'm an American, our names don't mean shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-m-an-american-our-names-don-t-mean-shit/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [This American system of ours,call it Americanism,call it capitalism,call it what you will,gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/this-american-system-of-ours-call-it-americanism-call-it-capitalism/) [Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/) > [I don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-don-t-see-much-future-for-the-americans-it-s-a-decayed-country-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) ## 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 Americanism quotes > [I don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-don-t-see-much-future-for-the-americans-it-s-a-decayed-country-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [This American system of ours,call it Americanism,call it capitalism,call it what you will,gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/this-american-system-of-ours-call-it-americanism-call-it-capitalism/) [Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/) > [“I'm an American, our names don't mean shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-m-an-american-our-names-don-t-mean-shit/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [Louis Brandeis started off by embracing the Theodore Roosevelt notion that hyphenated Americanism was unpatriotic. You couldn't have dual loyalties. But then he thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-rosen/louis-brandeis-started-off-by-embracing-the-theodore-roosevelt-notion/) [Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-rosen/) > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [You don't know Mexico, man. You have trivialized Mexico. You are a fool about Mexico if you think that Mexico is five blocks. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/you-don-t-know-mexico-man-you-have-trivialized-mexico-you-are-a-fool/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [Whether one traces his Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the steerage, is not half so important as whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/whether-one-traces-his-americanism-back-three-centuries-to-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Given the level of anti-Americanism in the world, given the level of frustration with the United States throughout the Muslim world, you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-kaplan/given-the-level-of-anti-americanism-in-the-world-given-the-level-of/) [Robert D. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-kaplan/) > [I am not a Republican, nor a Democrat, nor an American, and got sense enough to know it. I am one of the 22…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-am-not-a-republican-nor-a-democrat-nor-an-american-and-got-sense/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Without an ugly America to loathe, there is no automatic esteem to receive. Thus liberalism's unrelenting current of anti-Americanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/without-an-ugly-america-to-loathe-there-is-no-automatic-esteem-to/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Americanism demands loyalty to the teacher and respect for his lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bainbridge-colby/americanism-demands-loyalty-to-the-teacher-and-respect-for-his-lesson/) [Bainbridge Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bainbridge-colby/) > [I have absolutely no doubt that there is an intense anti-Americanism in all Western Europe, and I think the reason for that is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/i-have-absolutely-no-doubt-that-there-is-an-intense-anti-americanism/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [The spiritual kinship between Lincoln and Whitman was founded upon their Americanism, their essential Westernism. Whitman had grown up without much formal education; Lincoln…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-spiritual-kinship-between-lincoln-and-whitman-was-founded-upon/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Americanism is a question of principle, of purpose, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/americanism-is-a-question-of-principle-of-purpose-of-idealism-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I don't know much about Americanism, but it's a damn good word with which to carry an election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-harding/i-don-t-know-much-about-americanism-but-it-s-a-damn-good-word-with/) [Warren G. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-harding/) [Browse all 107 Americanism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americanism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. 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