Average Quote by Theodore Roosevelt
“The stream will not permanently rise higher than the main source; and the main source of national power and national greatness is found in the average citizenship of the nation. Therefore it behooves us to do our best to see that the standard of the average citizen is kept high; and the average cannot be kept high unless the standard of the leaders is very much higher.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: National Civic Responsibility, Theodore Roosevelt, 1905
The greatness of a nation depends on the quality of its average citizens, which in turn requires leaders of even higher standards.
In simple terms: A nation's power comes from its ordinary people, who need exemplary leaders.
Key Takeaway
Raise citizen standards by demanding higher leadership.
Themes
citizenship
leadership
national greatness
Mood
inspirational
serious
Type
political
motivational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- public policy
- community building
- leadership training
Key Concepts
civic duty
social responsibility
role modeling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens influence leader standards?
- What policies raise average citizen quality?
A Different Perspective
Leaders alone cannot fix systemic issues without broader reforms.
