--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the first place, we should insist that…" description: "\"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/theodore-roosevelt-218_american-flag_in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that_662064.jpg" --- # In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant… ![“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or…” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/theodore-roosevelt-218_american-flag_in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that_662064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/theodore-roosevelt-218_american-flag_in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that_662064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/theodore-roosevelt-218_american-flag_in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that_662064.jpg) > “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.” [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. Immigrants must fully adopt American identity, language, and loyalty; any dual allegiance is unacceptable. **In simple terms:** Immigrants should become completely American. Key Takeaway Promote full cultural integration. Themes nationalism assimilation identity loyalty language Mood assertive controversial Type political ideological When to use this quote - immigration policy - school curricula - public discourse - community integration Key Concepts citizenship cultural homogeneity political unity Questions to Reflect On - Is total assimilation necessary for unity? - What are the costs of demanding one language? A Different Perspective Excludes multiculturalism and individual heritage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-flag/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Americanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americanism/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Xenophobia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/xenophobia/) ## Related quotes > [But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/but-this-is-predicated-upon-the-man-s-becoming-in-very-fact-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that-if-the-immigrant-who-comes-3/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-divided-allegiance-here-any-man-who-says-he-is-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I started out in Hollywood and I owe a certain amount of loyalty to both the American movie industry and this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-started-out-in-hollywood-and-i-owe-a-certain-amount-of-loyalty-to/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [“In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-a-properly-organized-society-like-ours-nobody-has-any/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-fifty-fifty-americanism-in-this-country-there-is-room/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Americanism is a question of spirit, of conviction and purpose, not creed or birthplaces. The test of our worth is the service we render.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/americanism-is-a-question-of-spirit-of-conviction-and-purpose-not/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood - the virtues that made America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/americanism-means-the-virtues-of-courage-honor-justice-truth/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-no-room-in-this-country-for-hyphenated-americanism-when-i/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-immigrant-who-comes-here-should-be-required-within-five-years/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-no-room-in-this-country-for-hyphenated-americanism-the-one/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-no-room-in-this-country-for-hyphenated-americanism/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Americanism is a question of principle, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace, or creed, or line of descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/americanism-is-a-question-of-principle-of-idealism-of-character-it-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Americanism is a question of principle, of purpose, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/americanism-is-a-question-of-principle-of-purpose-of-idealism-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihoodthe virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/americanism-means-the-virtues-of-courage-honor-justice-truth-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## 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. 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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 American flag quotes > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I wrote the script of Patton. 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