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Quote#World

Our public life depends primarily not upon the men who occupy public…

Quote byTheodore Roosevelt · 1858–1919

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Address at the Prize Day Exercises at Groton School (1904).

English (original)

Our public life depends primarily not upon the men who occupy public positions for the moment, because they are but an infinitesimal fraction of the whole. Our public life depends upon men who take an active interest in that public life; who are bound to see public affairs honestly and competently managed; but who have the good sense to know what honesty and competency actually mean.

— Theodore Roosevelt

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