Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty
Subject(s): Attila, -453, Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937, Danton, Georges Jacques, 1759-1794, Draft, Genghis Khan, 1162-1227, Germany, Hillquit, Morris, 1869-1933, Hindenburg, Paul von, 1847-1934, La Follette, Robert M. (Robert Marion), 1855-1925, La Gorce, Pierre de, 1846-1934, Lewis, James, 1863-1939, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Marat, Jean Paul, 1743-1793, Military ethics, Military readiness, Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873, Patriotism, Robespierre, Maximilien, 1758-1794, Squier, George Own, 1863-1934, Stone, William Joel, 1848-1918, War crimes, Washington, George, 1732-1799, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, World War (1914-1918)
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In his lecture at Princeton, Theodore Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1917-11-16
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
34
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty. [November 16, 1917]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o288909. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty. [16 Nov. 1917]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 4, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o288909.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1917, November 16]. Princeton lecture, National strength and international duty. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o288909.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 4, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
