--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In popular government results worth while…" description: "\"In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense.\" — Theodore Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg" --- # In popular government results worth while can only be… ![“In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg) > “In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense.” [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. Effective government requires men who blend high ideals with practical sense, suggesting that virtue alone is insufficient without pragmatism. **In simple terms:** Good governance needs both noble goals and common sense. Key Takeaway Combine vision with practicality in leadership. Themes government leadership virtue pragmatism efficacy Mood inspirational thoughtful optimistic Type political philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public administration - community projects - policy making - team leadership Key Concepts idealism practicality policy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance lofty goals with everyday realities? - What examples show idealism and practicality succeeding together? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook real constraints, leading to unrealistic policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieved Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieved-men-867917/) [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Ideals Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals-practical-5505730/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Popular Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-government-296063/) [Practical Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-good-1600146/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) [Worthy Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy-ideals-2844595/) ## Related quotes > [To get the most out of the world one must conscientiously strive to put the most into it. Life without worthy ideals becomes wholly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/to-get-the-most-out-of-the-world-one-must-conscientiously-strive-to/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The purest evil that human efforts could attain, in other words, was probably achieved by those men who made their wills the same and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/the-purest-evil-that-human-efforts-could-attain-in-other-words-was/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [There can be no conquest to the man who dwells in the narrow and small environment of a groveling life, and there can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henson/there-can-be-no-conquest-to-the-man-who-dwells-in-the-narrow-and/) [Matthew Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henson/) > [“Perfection cannot be achieved by men," he told me. "Our highest calling is the pursuit of perfection. My haiku will be finished when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/perfection-cannot-be-achieved-by-men-he-told-me-our-highest-calling/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [There is nothing so practical as a good theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-lewin/there-is-nothing-so-practical-as-a-good-theory/) [Kurt Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-lewin/) > [There is nothing more practical than a good theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonid-brezhnev/there-is-nothing-more-practical-than-a-good-theory/) [Leonid Brezhnev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonid-brezhnev/) > [Nothing is more practical than a good theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-boltzmann/nothing-is-more-practical-than-a-good-theory/) [Ludwig Boltzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-boltzmann/) > [“Where is there virtue in this world that is of any practical good whose vital force is not to be found in example rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hooker-dewey/where-is-there-virtue-in-this-world-that-is-of-any-practical-good/) [Edward Hooker Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hooker-dewey/) > [We love good looks rather than what is practical, Though good looks may prove destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/we-love-good-looks-rather-than-what-is-practical-though-good-looks/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [It is much more intelligent, more practical, to be good rather than evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-much-more-intelligent-more-practical-to-be-good-rather-than-evil/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > ['Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/tis-substantially-true-that-virtue-or-morality-is-a-necessary-spring/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Lawyers are necessary in a community. Some of you...take a different view; but as I am a member of that legal profession, or was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/lawyers-are-necessary-in-a-community-some-of-you-take-a-different/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The evils of popular government appear greater than they are; there is compensation for them in spirit and energy it awakens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-evils-of-popular-government-appear-greater-than-they-are-there-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/knowledge-will-forever-govern-ignorance-and-a-people-who-mean-to-be/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) ## 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 Good sense quotes > [I am a great lover of art, in many forms: paintings, objets, textiles. 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But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [So there you have it: Nature is a rotten mess. But that's only the beginning. If you take your eyes off it for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/so-there-you-have-it-nature-is-a-rotten-mess-but-that-s-only-the/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [I am persuaded myself that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. They may be led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-persuaded-myself-that-the-good-sense-of-the-people-will-always/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I love Andre 3000 from OutKast. I think we'd complement each other, but I'm hoping he's got a good sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-love-andre-3000-from-outkast-i-think-we-d-complement-each-other-but/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [For some reason, I have better luck when I work with women. I guess I have a good sense of sisterhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/for-some-reason-i-have-better-luck-when-i-work-with-women-i-guess-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Fact is, the work place to a great extent is "where we live." We need star accountants. Boffo saleswomen. Over-the-top creatives in marketing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/fact-is-the-work-place-to-a-great-extent-is-where-we-live-we-need/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [It is good to preserve the name, wealth, and honors you inherit, but it is better in every way if you yourself create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-baldorioty-de-castro/it-is-good-to-preserve-the-name-wealth-and-honors-you-inherit-but-it/) [Roman Baldorioty de Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-baldorioty-de-castro/) > [Agriculture engenders good sense, and good sense of an excellent kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/agriculture-engenders-good-sense-and-good-sense-of-an-excellent-kind/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [I have a very good sense of tone, and it's possible to talk about very personal things and maintain a level of dignity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-have-a-very-good-sense-of-tone-and-it-s-possible-to-talk-about-very/) [Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/) > [I should esteem it the extreme of imprudence to prolong the precarious state of our national affairs, and to expose the Union to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-should-esteem-it-the-extreme-of-imprudence-to-prolong-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [President Obama has a good sense not just of the economic requisites for financial crisis firefighting but also how you build political support for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lael-brainard/president-obama-has-a-good-sense-not-just-of-the-economic-requisites/) [Lael Brainard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lael-brainard/) > [One tends to give one's fingers too little credit for their own good sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/one-tends-to-give-one-s-fingers-too-little-credit-for-their-own-good/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) [Browse all 339 Good sense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-popular-government-results-worth-while-can-only-be-achieved-by-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good sense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-popular-government-results-worth-while-can-only-be-achieved-by-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/theodore-roosevelt-218_good-sense_in-popular-government-results-worth-whil_2313804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with…” — 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": "In popular government results worth while...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-popular-government-results-worth-while-can-only-be-achieved-by-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-popular-government-results-worth-while-can-only-be-achieved-by-men/#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 } } ] } ```