Who said “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”?

Verified

Franklin D. Roosevelt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to all State Governors on a Uniform Soil Conservation Law (26 February 1937)); this statement has sometimes been paraphrased and prefixed to an earlier FDR statement of 29 January 1935 to read: "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.

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“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
VerifiedLetter to all State Governors on a Uniform Soil Conservation Law (26 February 1937)); this statement has sometimes been paraphrased and prefixed to an earlier FDR statement of 29 January 1935 to read: "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. · evidenceEcology

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to all State Governors on a Uniform Soil Conservation Law (26 February 1937)); this statement has sometimes been paraphrased and prefixed to an earlier FDR statement of 29 January 1935 to read: "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself..

APA

Roosevelt, F. D. (n.d.). The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/3067-the-nation-that-destroys-its-soil-destroys-itself/

MLA

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/3067-the-nation-that-destroys-its-soil-destroys-itself/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/3067-the-nation-that-destroys-its-soil-destroys-itself/.

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