Franklin D. Roosevelt

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Cooperation Over Ruinous Rivalry

  Competition

  Industry should organize itself to ensure reasonable profits and fair labor conditions while avoiding 'gang wars' of cutthroat competition.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Balance incentives for private growth

  Pricing

  Public assistance wages should be higher than basic relief but lower than private sector pay to encourage people to seek private employment.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Respect mutual obligations

  Integrity

  Success in a community of peers depends on respecting one's own sanctity of agreements and the rights of others.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Maintain Neutrality and Defense

  Risk

  When external conflicts arise, focus on a well-ordered neutrality while maintaining adequate defense to prevent being drawn into unnecessary risks.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I suggested in the spring of 1933 that 85 or 90 percent of all the people in the world were content with the territorial limits of their respective Nations”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Demand Specificity in Opposition

  Negotiation

  When facing criticism, force the opposition to move beyond vague generalities and define exactly what they would change or repeal.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Focus on Positive Action

  Strategy

  Progress is made through affirmative steps and specific policies rather than through negative attacks or returning to failed systems.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Adapt to Times and Events

  Strategy

  Core principles should be permanent, but their application and operation must be flexible enough to accommodate changing circumstances.

  Supporting quotes

  • “We cannot assume that immediate industrial and commercial activity which mitigates present pressures justifies the national Government at this time in placing the unemployment problem in a filing cabinet of finished business.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Broaden the Customer Base

  Strategy

  Increasing the purchasing power of the lowest-paid workers creates a ripple effect that benefits distributors, transporters, and professionals.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Convert Every Available Asset

  Management

  In times of crisis or high demand, every tool and facility from the largest to the smallest must be redirected toward the primary objective.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source State of the Union Addresses  (opens in a new tab)

• Iterative Experimentation

  Strategy

  One should adopt a method and test it, and if it fails, admit the failure quickly and move to a new approach.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikiquote: Franklin D. Roosevelt  (opens in a new tab)

• Radical Candor for Capital

  Fundraising

  Entrepreneurs seeking investment must be completely transparent about the facts to allow investors to make informed decisions.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikiquote: Franklin D. Roosevelt  (opens in a new tab)

• Ethical Wage Standards

  Integrity

  A business that cannot afford to pay its workers a decent living wage does not have a right to continue operating.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikiquote: Franklin D. Roosevelt  (opens in a new tab)

• Manage Psychological Capacity

  Management

  Understand that individuals cannot maintain peak intensity or focus on a single message for indefinite periods due to human psychology.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Build Confidence Through Integrity

  Brand

  Lasting confidence in any system is built on honesty, the fulfillment of obligations, and unselfish performance rather than mere luck.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Balance Individual Effort and Opportunity

  Leadership

  While individual pioneering drives progress, the environment must be managed to ensure unfair obstructions do not block others' opportunities.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikiquote: Franklin D. Roosevelt  (opens in a new tab)

• Ensure freedom from unfair domination

  Strategy

  A healthy business environment requires that all players, regardless of size, are free from monopolies and unfair competition.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikiquote: Franklin D. Roosevelt  (opens in a new tab)

• Address Threats Before They Arrive

  Strategy

  A leader must recognize that external events far beyond their immediate borders or market can overwhelmingly involve their own safety and future.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikisource: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Eighth State of the Union Address  (opens in a new tab)

• Pursue Perpetual Peaceful Revolution

  Strategy

  Organizations should embrace constant, quiet adjustments to changing conditions rather than waiting for a crisis to force a violent change.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikisource: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Eighth State of the Union Address  (opens in a new tab)

• Transparency Earns Legitimate Support

  Brand

  Provide true and complete information to stakeholders to ensure that both support and criticism are based on reality rather than rumors.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Wikisource: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second Inaugural Address  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Speed Over Procedure

  Decisions

  In times of urgent need, temporary departures from normal procedures may be necessary to prevent further damage.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Wikisource: Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address  (opens in a new tab)