The Four Freedoms

In these turbulent sociological / cultural / political times, I find it comforting to reflect upon the Four Freedoms. These are broad ideas fleshed out by Democrat President and Icon Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address that encompass, to him, Democrat icon and four-term President, the values of democracy.


In summary, the Four Freedoms are:

1) Freedom of speech

2) Freedom of worship

3) Freedom from want

4) Freedom from fear


In FDR’s own words:

In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear – which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor – anywhere in the world.


These words were articulated eleven months before Pearl Harbor was bombed. Over 400,000 American men, women, and children would sacrifice their lives, in no small part, for these freedoms.

Commit them to memory. And remember their source, and the circumstances of their formulation, and speak them aloud should some liberal fascist dolt(s) try to silence you for speaking, acting and living out your traditional American beliefs.