--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is one thing for which we stand…" description: "\"If there is one thing for which we stand in this country, it is for complete religious freedom, and it is an emphatic negation of this right to cross-e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg" --- # If there is one thing for which we stand in this country… ![“If there is one thing for which we stand in this country, it is for complete religious freedom, and it is an emphatic negation of this right to cross-examine a man on his religion before being willing to support him for office.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg) > “If there is one thing for which we stand in this country, it is for complete religious freedom, and it is an emphatic negation of this right to cross-examine a man on his religion before being willing to support him for office.” [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. The nation must uphold absolute religious freedom and reject any requirement to interrogate a candidate's faith before supporting them. **In simple terms:** Protect religious freedom; no faith vetting for office. Key Takeaway Support candidates without religious scrutiny. Themes religious freedom politics rights examination principle Mood principled defensive assertive Type political ethical When to use this quote - elections - candidate evaluation - public policy Key Concepts constitutional law civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - Should personal faith affect public office? - How to balance freedom and accountability? A Different Perspective May conflict with voters' values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-religion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Negation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negation/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-willing-3306508/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-freedom/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [The essence of all religion is to be willing to risk your life for a belief - not for survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-foster-snow/the-essence-of-all-religion-is-to-be-willing-to-risk-your-life-for-a/) [Helen Foster Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-foster-snow/) > [There are thousands ready to die for their religion, but only are few willing to live by its principles. Because of their narrow vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/there-are-thousands-ready-to-die-for-their-religion-but-only-are-few/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [No religion is absolutely perfect. Yet not only do we fight for religion, but also are we often willing to sacrifice our lives for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/no-religion-is-absolutely-perfect-yet-not-only-do-we-fight-for/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Religious liberty in a nation is as real as the liberty of its least popular religious minority. Look not to the size of cathedrals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-blanshard/religious-liberty-in-a-nation-is-as-real-as-the-liberty-of-its-least/) [Paul Blanshard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-blanshard/) > [It might be said that religious freedom in the American sense, incorporating the separation of church and state, has been the pivotal concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-leon-blau/it-might-be-said-that-religious-freedom-in-the-american-sense/) [Joseph Leon Blau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-leon-blau/) > [The modern public school derived from a philosophy of freedom reflected in the First Amendment ... The non-sectarian or secular public school was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-brennan/the-modern-public-school-derived-from-a-philosophy-of-freedom/) [William J. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-brennan/) > [I believe that this Republic will endure for many centuries. If so there will doubtless be among its Presidents Protestants and Catholics, and very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-believe-that-this-republic-will-endure-for-many-centuries-if-so/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The exact objectives of Islam Inc. are obscure. Needless to say everyone involved has a different angle, and they all intend to cross each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/the-exact-objectives-of-islam-inc-are-obscure-needless-to-say/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [It is well said, in every sense, that a man's religion is the chief fact with regard to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/it-is-well-said-in-every-sense-that-a-man-s-religion-is-the-chief/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Man without religion is the creature of circumstances: Religion is above all circumstances, and will lift him up above them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-hare/man-without-religion-is-the-creature-of-circumstances-religion-is/) [Augustus Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-hare/) > [I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-care-not-much-for-a-man-s-religion-whose-dog-and-cat-are-not-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The future of mankind seems to be a religious one, and religion can be a way for the modern man or the man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-future-of-mankind-seems-to-be-a-religious-one-and-religion-can-be/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) ## 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 Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is one thing for which we stand in this country, it is for complete religious freedom, and it is an emphatic negation of this right to cross-examine a man on his religion before being willing to support him for office.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand-in-this-country-it-is-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand-in-this-country-it-is-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/theodore-roosevelt-218_atheism_if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand_2780427.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is one thing for which we stand in this country, it is for complete religious freedom, and it is an…” — 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": "If there is one thing for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand-in-this-country-it-is-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-there-is-one-thing-for-which-we-stand-in-this-country-it-is-for/#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 } } ] } ```