Excerpt, "What is an American?" Speech
New York, New York,
May 18, 1941
"What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice property, ease and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men. An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence."
For more: Copeland, Lewis, Lawrence W. Lamm, and Stephen J. McKenna, eds. World's Great Speeches. 4th ed. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1999.