Who said “There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished…”?

Verified

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

SourceLetter to Sir Edward Grey (15 September 1913)

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“There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a democrat like myself must admit this. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the ''money touch,'' but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
VerifiedLetter to Sir Edward Grey (15 September 1913) · evidenceGovernment

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Sir Edward Grey (15 September 1913).

APA

Roosevelt, T. (n.d.). There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a democrat like myself must admit this. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the ''money touch,'' but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16844-there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government/

MLA

Roosevelt, Theodore. “There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a democrat like myself must admit this. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the ''money touch,'' but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16844-there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Roosevelt, Theodore. “There is something to be said for government by a great aristocracy which has furnished leaders to the nation in peace and war for generations; even a democrat like myself must admit this. But there is absolutely nothing to be said for government by a plutocracy, for government by men very powerful in certain lines and gifted with the ''money touch,'' but with ideals which in their essence are merely those of so many glorified pawnbrokers.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16844-there-is-something-to-be-said-for-government/.

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“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
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“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.”
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“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 →