--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must especially beware of that small…" description: "\"We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nests.\" — Fra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_we-must-especially-beware-of-that-small_1892988.jpg" --- # We must especially beware of that small group of selfish… ![“We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nests.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_we-must-especially-beware-of-that-small_1892988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_we-must-especially-beware-of-that-small_1892988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_america_we-must-especially-beware-of-that-small_1892988.jpg) > “We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nests.” [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 warning highlights how a few selfish individuals can undermine collective prosperity for personal gain. **In simple terms:** Selfish people can harm the common good. Key Takeaway Guard against selfish exploitation. Themes politics ethics economics Mood cautionary serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - business regulation - public discourse - community organizing Key Concepts social justice power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies limit selfish influence? - What safeguards protect the common good? A Different Perspective Not all groups are overtly selfish; systemic issues can be subtler. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-eagle/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Selfish men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-men/) [Small Group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-group/) [Small groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-groups/) ## Related quotes > [Competing is intense among humans, and within a group, selfish individuals always win. But in contests between groups, groups of altruists always beat groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/competing-is-intense-among-humans-and-within-a-group-selfish/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [“Yeah, beware the small man... Always beware the small man. He'll fuck you every time. Because they never forget, do they? All that grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-niven/yeah-beware-the-small-man-always-beware-the-small-man-he-ll-fuck-you/) [John Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-niven/) > [We must remember not to judge any public servant by any one act, and especially should we beware of attacking the men who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-must-remember-not-to-judge-any-public-servant-by-any-one-act-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [American Eagle can be a selling point for other young, cutting-edge companies to come to Pittsburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-rendell/american-eagle-can-be-a-selling-point-for-other-young-cutting-edge/) [Ed Rendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-rendell/) > [“if I was a painter, and was to paint the American Eagle, how should I do it?...I should want to draw it like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/if-i-was-a-painter-and-was-to-paint-the-american-eagle-how-should-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/love-your-life-perfect-your-life-beautify-all-things-in-your-life/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [Democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-is-the-eagle-on-the-back-of-a-dollar-bill-with-13-arrows-in/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view and demand that they respect yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/trouble-no-one-about-their-religion-respect-others-in-their-view-and/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [American Eagle clothing is stylish, flattering and all about embracing your individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/american-eagle-clothing-is-stylish-flattering-and-all-about-embracing/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit. 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The right wing would see to it that economic interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-ve-always-thought-the-american-eagle-needed-a-left-wing-and-a-right/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [If we would reach a degree of civilization higher and grander than any yet attained, we should welcome to our ample continent all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/if-we-would-reach-a-degree-of-civilization-higher-and-grander-than/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Let me guess. 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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. 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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... 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