All time Quote by Theodore Roosevelt
“Our loyalty is due entirely to the United States. It is due to the President only and exactly to the degree in which he efficiently serves the United States. It is our duty to support him when he serves the United States well. It is our duty to oppose him when he serves it badly. This is true about Mr. Wilson now and it has been true about all our Presidents in the past. It is our duty at all times to tell the truth about the President and about every one else, save in the cases where to tell the truth at the moment would benefit the public enemy.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Presidential Address on Civic Duty, 1905
Citizens must support the President when he serves the nation well, and oppose him when he does not, except when truth would aid enemies.
In simple terms: Support good leadership, oppose bad, unless truth harms the public.
Key Takeaway
Uphold truth and accountability.
Themes
civic duty
political loyalty
ethical responsibility
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy debates
- government oversight
- activism
Key Concepts
democracy
public trust
moral judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- When should truth be withheld for safety?
- How do you decide when to oppose a leader?
A Different Perspective
Balancing truth‑telling with national security can be complex.
![“I don't know whether we think in moving images or whether we think in still images. I have a suspicion that on our hard drive, our series within our brains, [exist] still photographs of very important moments in our lives. ... That we think in terms of still images and that what the photography is…” quote by Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/598/jon-snow-40883_all-time_i-don-t-know-whether-we-think-in-moving_15093.jpg)
