--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We count, in the future as in the past…" description: "\"We count, in the future as in the past, on the driving power of individual initiative, on the incentive of fair private profit, strengthened of course ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_acceptance_we-count-in-the-future-as-in-the-past-on_2390880.jpg" --- # We count, in the future as in the past, on the driving… ![“We count, in the future as in the past, on the driving power of individual initiative, on the incentive of fair private profit, strengthened of course with the acceptance of those obligations to the public interest which rest upon us all.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_acceptance_we-count-in-the-future-as-in-the-past-on_2390880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_acceptance_we-count-in-the-future-as-in-the-past-on_2390880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_acceptance_we-count-in-the-future-as-in-the-past-on_2390880.jpg) > “We count, in the future as in the past, on the driving power of individual initiative, on the incentive of fair private profit, strengthened of course with the acceptance of those obligations to the public interest which rest upon us all.” [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 stresses that future and past progress rely on individual initiative, fair private profit, and a sense of public responsibility. **In simple terms:** Progress needs personal drive, fair profit, and public duty. Key Takeaway Balance personal ambition with public duty. Themes economics public policy individualism Mood analytical thoughtful Type political economic When to use this quote - business decisions - government planning - community projects Key Concepts capitalism civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can profit be aligned with public good? - What safeguards ensure fair private profit? A Different Perspective Profit motives can conflict with public interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Incentive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentive/) [Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Public interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-interest/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The public are entitled to have an absolute guarantee of the financial probity and integrity of their elected representatives, their officials and above all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertie-ahern/the-public-are-entitled-to-have-an-absolute-guarantee-of-the/) [Bertie Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertie-ahern/) > [I'm particularly interested in the public role that all buildings play. I believe that we architects should try to go beyond our basic obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-m-particularly-interested-in-the-public-role-that-all-buildings/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [When we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-we-succeed-we-succeed-because-of-our-individual-initiative-but/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Real change in society must start from individual initiative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/real-change-in-society-must-start-from-individual-initiative/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The moral case for individual initiative in a free economy holds that people have a God-given right to use their creativity to produce things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-moral-case-for-individual-initiative-in-a-free-economy-holds-that/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“You see, I have come to believe in self-help, individual initiative, the love of what you do, and the full development of all individuals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/you-see-i-have-come-to-believe-in-self-help-individual-initiative-the/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [Individual initiative alone and the mere free play of competition could never assure successful development. One must avoid the risk of increasing still more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/individual-initiative-alone-and-the-mere-free-play-of-competition/) [Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/) > [Education, and the life of the mind generally, is a matter in which individual initiative is the chief thing needed; the function of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/education-and-the-life-of-the-mind-generally-is-a-matter-in-which/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [No one can deny that much of our modern advertising is essentially dishonest; and it can be maintained that to lie freely and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-l-becker/no-one-can-deny-that-much-of-our-modern-advertising-is-essentially/) [Carl L. 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Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [ ...free enterprise, \[is\] a term that refers, in practice, to a system of public subsidy and private profit, with massive government intervention in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/free-enterprise-is-a-term-that-refers-in-practice-to-a-system-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## 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. 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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 Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. 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Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. 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