Liberalism becomes the protection for the far-sighted conservative.
Roosevelt here slightly misquotes Thomas Babington Macaulay, who in a speech on parliamentary reform (2 March 1831) asserted: "The voice of great events is proclaiming to us, Reform, that you may preserve."
1930s, Address at the Democratic State Convention, Syracuse, New York (1936)
Kontext: The true conservative seeks to protect the system of private property and free enterprise by correcting such injustices and inequalities as arise from it. The most serious threat to our institutions comes from those who refuse to face the need for change. Liberalism becomes the protection for the far-sighted conservative.
Never has a Nation made greater strides in the safeguarding of democracy than we have made during the past three years. Wise and prudent men — intelligent conservatives — have long known that in a changing world worthy institutions can be conserved only by adjusting them to the changing time. In the words of the great essayist, "The voice of great events is proclaiming to us. Reform if you would preserve." I am that kind of conservative because I am that kind of liberal.
„Hovoria, že som konzervatívec, ale považujem sa za skutočného liberála.“
„Oporný bod neslobody – Dobre ozbrojený liberalizmus.“
„Ochrana zvierat je výchova k ľudskosti.“
„Konzervatívec je človek, ktorý je príliš zbabelý, aby bojoval a príliš tučný, aby utiekol.“
„Cieľom liberalizmu je mierová spolupráca všetkých ľudí. Usiluje sa aj o mier medzi národmi.“
„Problém života mimo zákon je ten, že už nemáte jeho ochranu.“
