America Quote by Woodrow Wilson
“Neutrality is a negative word. It is a word that does not express what America ought to feel. America has a heart, and that heart throbs with all sorts of intense sympathies... We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we are trying to preserve the foundations upon which peace can be rebuilt.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to Congress, 1917
Advocates for active moral stance over neutral neutrality, urging emotional engagement in national purpose.
In simple terms: Neutrality avoids expressing America's true feelings.
Embrace and act on national values.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- public speeches
- international crises
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How should a nation balance moral passion with diplomatic caution?
- When does emotional involvement hinder effective policy?
Neutrality can be pragmatic in complex geopolitics.