Third Annual Message to Congress, December 7, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt

Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready. A self-respecting, just nation, desirous of peace, but not fearing war, and willing to take its full share of the world's work, can best serve its own people and the cause of international civilization.

Roosevelt's line addresses a nation grappling with its rising global influence at the dawn of the 20th century. At a time when American power was expanding, he advocated for a balance between diplomacy and preparedness. This was the era of the Roosevelt Corollary, a time when the U.S. took a more assertive role in international affairs, and his words reflect the tension between engagement and defense.

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