---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we are warranted in contending…"
description: "\"I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted, and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement, far from merit..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg"
---

#  I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus…

![“I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted, and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement, far from meriting reproach, deserves highly of the community.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg)

> “I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted, and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement, far from meriting reproach, deserves highly of the community.”

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A well‑structured society can be a powerful engine of progress, deserving high esteem from its members.

**In simple terms:** A good society drives improvement.

Key Takeaway

Support and improve your community.

Themes

society progress community improvement

Mood

optimistic determined

Type

political motivational

When to use this quote

- public policy
- community organizing
- education reform

Key Concepts

political theory civic engagement social engineering

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you do to strengthen your community?
- How do you address inequities within society?

A Different Perspective

Idealizing society may overlook its flaws and dissent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Masonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonic/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I regard the Masonic institution as one of the means ordained by the Supreme Architect to enable mankind to work out the problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-regard-the-masonic-institution-as-one-of-the-means-ordained-by-the/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I highly venerate the Masonic Institution, under the fullest persuasion that, when its principles are acknowledged and its laws and precepts obeyed, it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-highly-venerate-the-masonic-institution-under-the-fullest/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Freemasonry must stand upon the Rock of Truth, religion, political, social, and economic. Nothing is so worthy of its care as freedom in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/freemasonry-must-stand-upon-the-rock-of-truth-religion-political/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Freemasonry teaches not merely temperance, fortitude, prudence, justice, brotherly love, relief, and truth, but liberty, equality, and fraternity, and it denounces ignorance, superstition, bigotry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/freemasonry-teaches-not-merely-temperance-fortitude-prudence-justice/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Give the brethren a chance to do something, anything, no matter how small or unimportant. A brother convinced that he is helpful is enthusiastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/give-the-brethren-a-chance-to-do-something-anything-no-matter-how/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Gradually the true Mason gains experience in using these working tools and can observe subtler and subtler indications of personal flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/gradually-the-true-mason-gains-experience-in-using-these-working/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [From its origin to the present hour, in all its vicissitudes, Masonry has been the steady unwearing friend of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/from-its-origin-to-the-present-hour-in-all-its-vicissitudes-masonry/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I violate no secret when I say that one of the greatest values in Masonry is that it affords an opportunity for men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-violate-no-secret-when-i-say-that-one-of-the-greatest-values-in/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I ask of each Mason, of each member, of each brother, that he shall remember ever that there is upon him a peculiar obligation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-ask-of-each-mason-of-each-member-of-each-brother-that-he-shall/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The truth is, most of those female stories that are contending for Oscars are directed by men. Let's be honest. I looked at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/the-truth-is-most-of-those-female-stories-that-are-contending-for/)

[Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/)

> [Without needing to be theoretically instructed, consciousness quickly realizes that it is the site of variously contending discourses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/without-needing-to-be-theoretically-instructed-consciousness-quickly/)

[Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/)

> [I've started to show the consistency in majors I had in regular tournaments back in 1998-2000 when I was contending nearly every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/i-ve-started-to-show-the-consistency-in-majors-i-had-in-regular/)

[Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/)

> [The historian's distortion is more than technical, it is ideological; it is released into a world of contending interest, where any chosen emphasis supports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-historian-s-distortion-is-more-than-technical-it-is-ideological/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [History more often records the brilliant successes and spectacular defeats of contending forces than the effect of war on the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-cable/history-more-often-records-the-brilliant-successes-and-spectacular/)

[Mildred Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-cable/)

> [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

## More by Theodore Roosevelt

> [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

[Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## More Admirable quotes

> [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/)

[John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/)

> [Education is very admirable but let us not forget that anything worth knowing cannot be taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/education-is-very-admirable-but-let-us-not-forget-that-anything-worth/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Happiness is a rare plant that seldom takes root on earth-few ever enjoyed it, except for a brief period; the search after it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/happiness-is-a-rare-plant-that-seldom-takes-root-on-earth-few-ever/)

[Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-gardiner-countess-of-blessington/)

> [Worthy is the one who remembers to thank the Lord for all His blessings; but admirable is the one who still thank God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/worthy-is-the-one-who-remembers-to-thank-the-lord-for-all-his/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [It is admirable to consider how many millions of people come into, and go out of the world, ignorant of themselves and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/it-is-admirable-to-consider-how-many-millions-of-people-come-into-and/)

[William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/)

> [What is pure Bill? Or excellent or admirable? The death of a million people in a flood? God evidently through so. He is incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/what-is-pure-bill-or-excellent-or-admirable-the-death-of-a-million/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [Mexico is sex and Canada is mind. There is much about Canada that I find admirable - the treatment of immigrants, for example, particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/mexico-is-sex-and-canada-is-mind-there-is-much-about-canada-that-i/)

[Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/)

> [Of what use is it to please the herd? They are simply coarse animals - for all that is admirable in man is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/of-what-use-is-it-to-please-the-herd-they-are-simply-coarse-animals/)

[H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/)

> [ I didn't get a chance to meet Glen \[Beck\] for this movie. I did meet him a few years ago, coincidentally, before any of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-didn-t-get-a-chance-to-meet-glen-beck-for-this-movie-i-did-meet-him/)

[Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/)

> [No method nor discipline can supersede the necessity of being forever on the alert. What is a course of history, or philosophy, or poetry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-the-necessity-of-being-forever/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I think it's perfectly acceptable and rather admirable to be moderately delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/i-think-it-s-perfectly-acceptable-and-rather-admirable-to-be/)

[Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/)

> [Charles Darwin made arguably the greatest discovery any human has ever made. He was a man of great persistence. He wasn't probably a natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/charles-darwin-made-arguably-the-greatest-discovery-any-human-has/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [N. S. Khrushchev established his supremacy in the U.S.S.R. after post-Stalinist alarums and excursions (1958-64). This admirable rough diamond, a believer in reform and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hobsbawm/n-s-khrushchev-established-his-supremacy-in-the-u-s-s-r-after-post/)

[Eric Hobsbawm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hobsbawm/)

> [There has been a constant struggle on the part of the military element to keep the end- fighting, or readiness to fight-superior to mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-thayer-mahan/there-has-been-a-constant-struggle-on-the-part-of-the-military/)

[Alfred Thayer Mahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-thayer-mahan/)

> [But there are people who take salt with their coffee. They say it gives a tang, a savour, which is peculiar and fascinating. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/but-there-are-people-who-take-salt-with-their-coffee-they-say-it/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

Browse all 398 Admirable quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted, and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement, far from meriting reproach, deserves highly of the community.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Theodore Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-that-a-society-thus/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Admirable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-that-a-society-thus/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/theodore-roosevelt-218_admirable_i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-t_1544301.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted, and which may be rendered so…” — Theodore Roosevelt",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Theodore Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think we are warranted in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-that-a-society-thus/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-think-we-are-warranted-in-contending-that-a-society-thus/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
