“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt, First inaugural address (4 March 1933)

About Franklin D. Roosevelt

1882 – 1945

Thirty-second President of the United States, who led the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II.

“There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected.”

“Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.”

“This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.”

“The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men opportunity to work out happiness for themselves.”

“Labour without joy is base. Labour without sorrow is base. Sorrow without labour is base. Joy without labour is base.”

“The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”

“Why does this magnificent applied science which saves work and makes life easier bring us so little happiness?”

“The happiness of men consists in life. And life is in labor.”

“Happy endings usually don't work for me. I like open endings. I trust the reader's imagination.”