"The generally expressed desire of "America first" can not be criticized. It is a perfectly correct aspiration for our people to cherish. But the problem which we have to solve is how to make America first. It can not be done by the cultivation of national bigotry, arrogance, or selfishness. Hatreds, jealousies, and suspicions will not be productive of any benefits in this direction. Here again we must apply the rule of toleration. Because there are other peoples whose ways are not our ways, and whose thoughts are not our thoughts, we are not warranted in drawing the conclusion that they are adding nothing to the sum of civilization. We can make little contribution to the welfare of humanity on the theory that we are a superior people and all others are an inferior people. We do not need to be too loud in the assertion of our own righteousness. It is true that we live under most favorable circumstances. But before we come to the final and irrevocable decision that we are better than everybody else we need to consider what we might do if we had their provocations and their difficulties. We are not likely to improve our own condition or help humanity very much until we come to the sympathetic understanding that human nature is about the same everywhere, that it is rather evenly distributed over the surface of the earth, and that we are all united in a common brotherhood. We can only make America first in the true sense which that means by cultivating a spirit of friendship and good will, by the exercise of the virtues of patience and forbearance, by being "plenteous in mercy," and through progress at home and helpfulness abroad standing as an example of real service to humanity."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Presidents of the United StatesPoliticians from MassachusettsAutobiographers from the United StatesPoliticians from VermontUnited States presidential candidates, 1932
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Speech to the American Legion Convention, held in Omaha, Nebraska (6 October 1925)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Calvin Coolidge
1872 – 1933
US-amerikanischer Politiker
402 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Calvin Coolidge →
Related Quotes
"I appeal to Amherst men to reiterate the Amherst doctrine that the man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the…"
"When a great many people are unable to find work, unemployment results."
"Our inhabitants are especially free to promote their own welfare. They are unburdened by militarism. They are not cal…"
"The history of government on this earth has been almost entirely a history of the rule of force held in the hands of …"
"The evidence of this is all about us, in our wealth, our educational facilities, our charities, our religious institu…"
"There are only two main theories of government in the world. One rests on righteousness, the other rests on force. On…"
"Yet Americans are not visionary, they are not sentimentalists. They want idealism, but they want it to be practical, …"
"This is the main thought which your presence here brings to my mind. Let us maintain all the high ideals which have b…"
"We Americans are idealists. We are willing to follow the truth solely because it is the truth. We put our main emphas…"
""Mr. Coolidge was a real conservative, probably the equal of Benjamin Harrison," said Herbert Hoover, who was frequen…"