罗斯福演讲the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself

theonlythingwehavetofearisfearitself--罗斯福演讲PresidentHoover,MisterChiefJustice,myfriends:Thisisadayofnationalconsecration,andIamcertainthatonthisday,myfellowAmericansexpectthatonmyinductioninthePresidencyIwilladdressthemwithacandorandadecisionwhichthepresentsituationofourpeopleimpels.Thisispreeminentlythetimetospeakthetruth,thewholetruth,franklyandboldly.Norneedweshrinkfromhonestlyfacingtheconditionsfacingourcountrytoday.Thisgreatnationwillendureasithasendured,willreviveandwillprosper.Sofirstofall,letmeexpressmyfirmbeliefthattheonlythingwehavetofearisfearitself-nameless,unreasoning,unjustifiedterror,whichparalyzesneededeffortstoconvertretreatintoadvance.Ineverydarkhourofournationallife,aleadershipoffranknessandvigorhasmetwiththatunderstandingandsupportofthepeoplethemselves,whichisessentialtovictory.AndIamconvincedthatyouwillagaingivethatsupporttoleadershipinthesecriticaldays.Insuchaspiritonmypartandonyours,wefaceourcommondifficulties.Theyconcern,thankGod,onlymaterialthings.Valueshaveshrunkentofantasticlevels;taxeshaverisen,ourabilitytopayhasfallen;governmentofallkindsisfacedbyseriouscurtailmentofincome;themeansofexchangearefrozeninthecurrentsoftrade;thewitheredleavesofindustrialenterpriselieoneveryside;farmersfindnomarketsfortheirproduce,andthesavingsofmanyyearsandthousandsoffamiliesaregone.Moreimportant,ahostofunemployedcitizensfacethegrimproblemofexistence,andanequalandgreatnumbertoilwithlittlereturn.Onlyafoolishoptimistcandenythedarkrealitiesofthemoment.Andyet,ourdistresscomesfromnofailureofsubstance,wearestrickenbynoplagueoflocusts.Comparedwiththeperilswhichourforefathersconquered,becausetheybelievedandwerenotafraid,wehavesomuchtobethankfulfor.Naturesurroundsuswithherbounty,andhumaneffortshavemultipliedit.Plentyisatourdoorstep,butageneroususeofitlanguishesintheverysightofthesupply.Primarily,thisisbecausetherulersoftheexchangeofmankind’sgoodshavefailed,throughtheirownstubbornnessandtheirownincompetence,haveadmittedtheirfailureandhaveabdicated.Practicesoftheunscrupulousmoneychangersstandindictedinthecourtofpublicopinion,rejectedbytheheartsandmindsofmen.True,theyhavetried,buttheireffortshavebeencastinthepatternofanoutworntradition.Facedbyafailureofcredit,theyhaveproposedonlythelendingofmoremoney.Strippedofthelureofprofitbywhichtheyinduceourpeopletofollowtheirfalseleadership,theyhaveresortedtoexhortation,pleadingtearfullyforrestoredconfidence.Theyonlyknowtherulesofagenerationofself-seekers.Theyhavenovision,andwhenthereisnovision,thepeopleperish.Yes,themoneychangershavefledfromtheirhighseatsinthetempleofourcivilization.Wemaynowrestorethattempletotheancienttruths.Ameasureofthatrestorationliesintheextenttowhichweapplysocialvalue,morenoblethanmeremonetaryprofits.Happinessliesnotinthemerepossessionofmoney,itliesinthejoyofachievement,inthethrillofcreativeefforts,thejoyandmoralstimulationofworknolongermustbeforgotteninthemadchaseofevanescentprofits.Thesedarkdays,myfriends,willbeworthalltheycostus,iftheyteachusthatourtruedestinyisnottobeministeredonto,buttoministertoourselves,toourfellowmen.Recognitionofthefalsityofmaterialwealthasthestandardofsuccessgoeshandinhandwiththeabandonmentofafalsebeliefthatpublicofficeandhighpoliticalpositionaretobevaluedonlybythestandardsofprideofplaceandpersonalprofits,andtheremustbeanendtoourconductinbankingandinbusiness,whichtoooftenhasgiventoasacredtrustthelikenessofcallousandselfishwrong-doing.Smallwonderthatconfidencelanguishes,foritthrivesonlyonhonesty,onhonor,onthesacrednessofourobligation,onfaithfulprotectionandonunselfishperformance.Withoutthemitcannotlive.Restorationcalls,however,notforchangesinethicsalone.Thisnationisaskingforaction,andactionnow.Ourgreatestprimarytaskistoputpeopletowork.Thisisnounsolvableproblemifwetakeitwiselyandcourageously.Itcanbeaccomplishedinpartbydirectrecruitingbythegovernmentitself,treatingthetaskaswewouldtreattheemergencyofawar,butatthesametime,throughthisemployment,accomplishinggreatlyneededprojectstostimulateandreorganizetheuseofourgreatnaturalresources.Handinhandwiththat,wemustfranklyrecognizetheoverbalanceofpopulationinourindustrialcentersandbyengagingonanationalscaleinaredistributioninanefforttoprovidebetteruseofthelandforthosebestfittedfortheland.Yesthetaskcanbehelpedbydefiniteeffortstoraisethevalueoftheagriculturalproductandwiththisthepowertopurchasetheoutputofourcities.Itcanbehelpedbypreventingrealistically,thetragedyofthegrowinglossesthroughforeclosuresofoursmallhomesandourfarms.Itcanbehelpedbyinsistencethatthefederal,thestate,andthelocalgovernmentactforthwithonthedemandsthattheircostsbedrasticallyreduce.Itcanbehelpedbytheunifyingofreliefactivitieswhichtodayareoftenscattered,uneconomical,unequal.Itcanbehelpedbynationalplanningfor,andsupervisionofallformsoftransportation,andofcommunications,andotherutilitiesthathaveadefinitelypubliccharacter.Therearemanywaysinwhichitcanbehelped,butitcanneverbehelpedbymerelytalkingaboutit.Wemustact,wemustactquickly.Andfinally,inourprogresstowardaresumptionofwork,werequiretwosafeguardsagainstthereturnoftheevilso