“Lives of nations are determined not by the count of years, but by the lifetime of the human spirit.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt, Third Inaugural Address (1941)

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 young have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations.”

“You've got to understand life, understand it when you're young.”

“Men of the most brilliant intelligence can be born, live and die in error and falsehood.”

“It is old age, rather than death, that is to be contrasted with life.”

“Man's main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is.”

“Silence before being born, silence after death: life is nothing but noise between two unfathomable silences.”