Who said “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a…”?

Verified

Theodore Roosevelt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceSpeech at Springfield, Illinois (4 July 1903)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
VerifiedSpeech at Springfield, Illinois (4 July 1903) · evidencePatriotism

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Speech at Springfield, Illinois (4 July 1903).

APA

Roosevelt, T. (n.d.). A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16135-a-man-who-is-good-enough-to-shed/

MLA

Roosevelt, Theodore. “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16135-a-man-who-is-good-enough-to-shed/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Roosevelt, Theodore. “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16135-a-man-who-is-good-enough-to-shed/.

Related quotes

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
— Nathan Hale
VerifiedLast words before being hanged by the British as a spy, (September 22, 1776), according to the account by William Hull based on reports by British Captain John Montresor who was present and who spoke to Hull under a flag of truce the next day · evidenceDetails & citePatriotism

More quotes by Theodore Roosevelt

“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
VerifiedLetter to Henry L. Sprague (26 January 1900); this is the first known use of this phrase, which became a signature motto of Roosevelt's after he used it in a speech as vice president at the Minnesota State Fair · evidenceDetails & citePower
“The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight.”
VerifiedSpeech at New York (11 November 1902) · evidenceDetails & citeDuty
“It is impossible to win the great prizes of life without running risks, and the greatest of all prizes are those connected with the home.”
VerifiedTheodore Roosevelt — An Autobiography (1913) · evidenceDetails & citeRisk
“Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.”
VerifiedSpeech at Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island (23 August 1902), Presidential Addresses and State Papers (1910), p. 103. · evidenceDetails & citeWealth
All 67 Theodore Roosevelt quotes →