--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is something to be said for…" description: "\"There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg" --- # There is something to be said for government by a great… ![“There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a Democrat like myself must admit this.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg) > “There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a Democrat like myself must admit this.” [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 strong, educated ruling class can provide consistent leadership across peace and war, even if one disagrees politically. **In simple terms:** Aristocracy can supply reliable leaders. Key Takeaway Value meritocratic leadership. Themes leadership government aristocracy politics history Mood thoughtful critical reflective Type political historical analytical When to use this quote - political analysis - historical study - leadership training - civic education Key Concepts elite governance public service national unity Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance elite expertise with democratic inclusion? - What safeguards prevent aristocratic dominance? A Different Perspective Such a class may ignore broader public needs and perpetuate inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Aristocracy Furnished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy-furnished-2653293/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Generations Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations-democrat-2653294/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-great-699398/) [Great Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-aristocracy-2653292/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace And War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-and-war/) [Plutocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plutocracy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government-by-a-great-aristocracy/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Of all forms of tyranny the least attractive and the most vulgar is the tyranny of mere wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/of-all-forms-of-tyranny-the-least-attractive-and-the-most-vulgar-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Everything is un-American that tends either to government by a plutocracy or government by a mob. To divide along the lines of section or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/everything-is-un-american-that-tends-either-to-government-by-a/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/government-is-the-great-fiction-through-which-everybody-endeavors-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [We just need to make sure that we get somebody in there that respects the Constitution, respects the rule of law, that restores the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-just-need-to-make-sure-that-we-get-somebody-in-there-that-respects/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [If the Tea Party gets its way, there will be less government - which is great for the elites. They don't need the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/if-the-tea-party-gets-its-way-there-will-be-less-government-which-is/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [The U.S. is a great government, is a great country. The U.S. did sign the Paris Agreement. It's extremely aggressive to decide on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/the-u-s-is-a-great-government-is-a-great-country-the-u-s-did-sign-the/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [The America I know is great - not because government made it great but because ordinary citizens like me, like my father and like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-love/the-america-i-know-is-great-not-because-government-made-it-great-but/) [Mia Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-love/) > [The government of our great country belongs to all of the people and not just a handful of the wealthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-government-of-our-great-country-belongs-to-all-of-the-people-and/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We owe something to the government to grow up in this great country. 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No longer do people look to the government as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/the-most-encouraging-trend-of-our-time-is-the-widespread-loss-of/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [The establishment of our new Government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness by reasonable compact in civil society. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-establishment-of-our-new-government-seemed-to-be-the-last-great/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I have no doubt that the government of this great nation will work with its people to lead New Orleans and the Gulf Coast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-have-no-doubt-that-the-government-of-this-great-nation-will-work/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) ## 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."... 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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 Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [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/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? 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The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a Democrat like myself must admit this.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government-by-a-great-aristocracy-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government-by-a-great-aristocracy-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1880651.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the…” — 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": "There is something to be said...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government-by-a-great-aristocracy-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government-by-a-great-aristocracy-2/#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 } } ] } ```