--- 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/89a/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1171723.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. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very…” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1171723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1171723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/theodore-roosevelt-218_aristocracy_there-is-something-to-be-said-for-govern_1171723.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. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the money touch, but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers.” [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, merit‑based aristocracy can produce capable leaders, while rule by wealth alone lacks true ideals. **In simple terms:** Good leaders come from merit, not money. Key Takeaway Value merit over money in leadership. Themes leadership government meritocracy Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political appointments - corporate governance - public policy - education of leaders - nonprofit boards Key Concepts aristocracy plutocracy ideals Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure meritocracy in modern institutions? - What safeguards prevent plutocratic influence? A Different Perspective Money can corrupt decision‑making despite expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [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/) [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-2/) [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. 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In reality we live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/people-live-with-the-illusion-that-we-have-a-democratic-system-but-it/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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. 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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. 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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. 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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. 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