Children Quote by Margaret MacMillan
““Theodore Rex. Roosevelt was driven by ambition, idealism and vanity. As his daughter famously remarked: “My father always wanted to be the corpse at every funeral, the bride at every wedding, and the baby at every christening.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Margaret MacMillan, 2005
Roosevelt’s ambition manifested in a desire for prominence in every major life event, reflecting both drive and vanity.
In simple terms: Roosevelt wanted to be central in all major events.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the fine line between ambition and vanity.
Themes
ambition
vanity
leadership
historical figure
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
historical
psychological
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- historical analysis
- biographical study
Key Concepts
psychology of power
public image
family dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates your pursuit of prominence?
- How does vanity impact decision making?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on status can distract from substantive achievements.
![“I think the fact that she [Eleanor Roosevelt] was a woman probably in those days would have been an additional criticism, although first ladies by definition in those days were women. There's always been a problem and still is, about the role the first lady should play, of course. Everybody's seen…” quote by William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dbf/william-a-rusher-20922_clinton_i-think-the-fact-that-she-eleanor-roosev_133419.jpg)
