Help! Need source of Theodore Roosevelt quote!

Vanity

[formercalifornian]

Need to find source of this quote: Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally impossible for us to figure ourselves what that life would be if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals, all the standards which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves.”

Need to know if wording is correct is it "figure to ourselves" or "figure ourselves"? It's both ways on different web sites and I can't find a source to track it down. Anyone know how I can find online help? Or know for certain the wording of the quote? Thanks!

[Wolverine]

"Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally - I do not mean figuratively, but literally - impossible for us to figure what that loss would be if these teachings were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all the standards towards which we, with more or less of resolution, strive to raise ourselves."

                                                                                                                            Theodore Roosevelt:

[quidnunc]

Here is the quote but in addition to being attributed to Theodore Rooseveldt I found one source which attributed it to Ulysses S. Grant.

Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally-I do not mean figuratively, but literally- impossible for us to figure what that loss would be if these teachings were removed. We would lose all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all the standards towards which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves.

[formercalifornian]

Thanks, but what I'm looking for is, is this from a speech? A book? And when was it written? That kind of thing.

[formercalifornian]

Okay, but what work -- from either president -- was this supposed to have come from? Any ideas? It would be great to be able to pin this down. I hope someone didn't just make this up and attribute it to Roosevelt (or Grant for that matter).

[quidnunc]

Here is the most authorative source I could find on the Internet:

"Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined in our whole civic and social life that it would be literally — I do not mean figuratively, but literally — impossible for us to figure what the loss would be if these teachings were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all the standards toward which we, with more or less of resolution, strive to raise ourselves."

Excerpts from a speech entitled "The Influence of the Bible" given by T. Roosevelt in 1901.

http://www.neteffex.com/gop/roosevlt.html

You have to be careful with quotations found on the Internet.

Sometimes even though they are misattributed — or even completely fictitious — they are repeated enough times until they assume the status of conventional wisdom.

[RonHolzwarth]

"Sometimes even though they are misattributed — or even completely fictitious — they are repeated enough times until they assume the status of conventional wisdom."

ANYTHING repeated enough times assumes the status of wisdom, and is assumed to be true!

For instance, there are MANY TODAY that believe that there "used to be" a country named Palistine, and they also seem to believe that Jerasulem was its capital.

Total FICTION!

There was NEVER a country named Palistine, only a geographic area that included Jordan, Syria, parts of Iraq, etc., and Jerasulem was NEVER a capital of ANY country EVER!

There are many, many other examples where often repeated "tall tales" become accepted as truth. Here is one to ponder:

John.16
[2] They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to G-d.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You might enjoy this site:

Quotes From The Founding Fathers.

[rs79bm]

Ahh...Teddy Roosevelt. Speak softly and carry a big stick.

One of the great American Presidents.