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About this quote

What does it mean?
Human worth is defined by character and actions, not by race or religion.
In plain terms
Judge people by their heart and deeds, not their background.
What can you take from it?
Merit and character define a person's standing.

Where it applies

  • social integration
  • leadership
  • community relations

Putting it to work

  • hiring practices
  • community organizing
  • education

Questions to consider

  • How do you judge others?
  • What defines a good person?

Another view

Society often still judges people based on superficial traits.

More from Theodore Roosevelt

  1. The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly.

    Permalink to quote #127
  2. There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100 percent. Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing els…

    Permalink to quote #129
  3. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-…

    Permalink to quote #126

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