FourFreedomsSpeechExcerptby:FranklinD.

Roosevelt
[61]Afreenationhastherighttoexpectfullcooperationfromallgroups.Afree
nationhastherighttolooktotheleadersofbusiness,oflabor,andofagriculture
totaketheleadinstimulatingeffort,notamongothergroupsbutwithintheirown
groups.
[62]Thebestwayofdealingwiththefewslackersortroublemakersinourmidst
is,first,toshamethembypatrioticexample,and,ifthatfails,tousethe
sovereigntyofgovernmenttosavegovernment.
[63]Asmendonotlivebybreadalone,theydonotfightbyarmamentsalone.
Thosewhomanourdefenses,andthosebehindthemwhobuildourdefenses,must
havethestaminaandthecouragewhichcomefromunshakablebeliefinthe
manneroflifewhichtheyaredefending.Themightyactionthatwearecallingfor
cannotbebasedonadisregardofallthingstheworthfightingfor.
[64]TheNationtakesgreatsatisfactionandmuchstrengthfromthethingswhich
havebeendonetomakeitspeopleconsciousoftheirindividualstakeinthe
preservationofdemocraticlifeinAmerica.Thosethingshavetoughenedthefibre
ofourpeople,haverenewedtheirfaithandstrengthenedtheirdevotiontothe
institutionswemakereadytoprotect.
[65]Certainlythisisnotimeforanyofustostopthinkingaboutthesocialand
economicproblemswhicharetherootcauseofthesocialrevolutionwhichis
todayasupremefactorintheworld.
[66]Forthereisnothingmysteriousaboutthefoundationsofahealthyandstrong
democracy.Thebasicthingsexpectedbyourpeopleoftheirpoliticaland
economicsystemsaresimple.Theyare:
[67]Equalityofopportunityforyouthandforothers.
[68]Jobsforthosewhocanwork.
[69]Securityforthosewhoneedit.
[70]Theendingofspecialprivilegeforthefew.
[71]Thepreservationofcivillibertiesforall.
[72]Theenjoyment...theenjoymentofthefruitsofscientificprogressinawider
andconstantlyrisingstandardofliving.
[73]Thesearethesimple,thebasicthingsthatmustneverbelostsightofinthe

turmoilandunbelievablecomplexityofourmodernworld.Theinnerandabiding
strengthofoureconomicandpoliticalsystemsisdependentuponthedegreeto
whichtheyfulfilltheseexpectations.
[74]Manysubjectsconnectedwithoursocialeconomycallforimmediate
improvement.
[75]Asexamples:
[76]Weshouldbringmorecitizensunderthecoverageofoldagepensionsand
unemploymentinsurance.
[77]Weshouldwidentheopportunitiesforadequatemedicalcare.
[78]Weshouldplanabettersystembywhichpersonsdeservingorneeding
gainfulemploymentmayobtainit.
[79]Ihavecalledforpersonalsacrifice.AndIamassuredofthewillingnessof
almostallAmericanstorespondtothatcall.
[80]Apartofthesacrificemeansthepaymentofmoremoneyintaxes.Inmy
BudgetMessageIwillrecommendthatagreaterportionofthisgreatdefense
programbepaidforfromtaxationthanwearepayingfortoday.Nopersonshould
try,orbeallowed,togetrichoutoftheprogram;andtheprincipleoftaxpayments
inaccordancewithabilitytopayshouldbeconstantlybeforeoureyestoguideour
legislation.
[81]IftheCongressmaintainstheseprinciples,thevoters,puttingpatriotism
aheadofpocketbooks,willgiveyoutheirapplause.
[82]Inthefuturedays,whichweseektomakesecure,welookforwardtoaworld
foundeduponfouressentialhumanfreedoms.
[83]Thefirstisfreedomofspeechandexpressioneverywhereintheworld.
[84]ThesecondisfreedomofeverypersontoworshipGodinhisownway
everywhereintheworld.
[85]Thethirdisfreedomfromwantwhich,translatedintoworldterms,means
economicunderstandingswhichwillsecuretoeverynationahealthypeacetime
lifeforitsinhabitantseverywhereintheworld.
86]Thefourthisfreedomfromfearwhich,translatedintoworldterms,meansa
worldwidereductionofarmamentstosuchapointandinsuchathoroughfashion
thatnonationwillbeinapositiontocommitanactofphysicalaggressionagainst

anyneighboranywhereintheworld.
[87]Thatisnovisionofadistantmillennium.Itisadefinitebasisforakindof
worldattainableinourowntimeandgeneration.Thatkindofworldisthevery
antithesisofthesocalledneworderoftyrannywhichthedictatorsseektocreate
withthecrashofabomb.
[88]Tothatneworderweopposethegreaterconceptionthemoralorder.Agood
societyisabletofaceschemesofworlddominationandforeignrevolutionsalike
withoutfear.
[89]SincethebeginningofourAmericanhistory,wehavebeenengagedin
changeinaperpetualpeacefulrevolutionarevolutionwhichgoesonsteadily,
quietlyadjustingitselftochangingconditionswithouttheconcentrationcampor
thequicklimeintheditch.Theworldorderwhichweseekisthecooperationof
freecountries,workingtogetherinafriendly,civilizedsociety.
[90]Thisnationhasplaceditsdestinyinthehandsandheadsandheartsofits
millionsoffreemenandwomen;anditsfaithinfreedomundertheguidanceof
God.Freedommeansthesupremacyofhumanrightseverywhere.Oursupport
goestothosewhostruggletogainthoserightsandkeepthem.Ourstrengthisour
unityofpurpose.
[91]Tothathighconcepttherecanbenoendsavevictory.