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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hoover frames the nation's policies as a noble experiment with far-reaching goals.
In plain terms
Our country is trying a big social and economic experiment for a good reason.
What can you take from it?
National policies should aim for noble, far-reaching goals.

Where it applies

  • debating economic policy
  • discussing national goals
  • evaluating government experiments

Putting it to work

  • assess policy motivations
  • discuss national ambitions

Questions to consider

  • What makes a policy noble?
  • How do we evaluate social experiments?

Another view

Describing policy as an experiment may downplay the risks to ordinary people.

More from Herbert Hoover

  1. I'm the only person of distinction who's ever had a depression named for him.

    Permalink to quote #17
  2. With impressive proof on all sides of magnificent progress, no one can rightly deny the fundamental correctness of our economic system.

    Permalink to quote #19
  3. I outlived the bastards.

    Permalink to quote #16

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