Quote Me If You Can Trivia Quiz

Answer: Grover Cleveland

This quote is taken from a letter written to the Democratic Convention from New York Governor Grover Cleveland. It was written in August of 1884 during the Grover's campaign run for presidential office. The following is a segment from that letter, as written in Wikipedia, "A truly American sentiment recognizes the dignity of labor and the fact that honor lies in honest toil. Contented labor is an element of national prosperity. Ability to work constitutes the capital and the wage of labor the income of a vast number of our population, and this interest should be jealously protected. Our workingmen are not asking unreasonable indulgence, but as intelligent and manly citizens they seek the same consideration which those demand who have other interests at stake.

They should receive their full share of the care and attention of those who make and execute the laws, to the end that the wants and needs of the employers and the employed shall alike be sub served and the prosperity of the country, the common heritage of both, be advanced."

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

The first time Theodore used this phrase was in a letter to Henry L. Sprague written on January 26th, 1900. At the time Roosevelt was the Governor of New York and was discussing the re-nomination of Louis Payne as the state's insurance commissioner - a nomination which Roosevelt did NOT want to happen. Later during his time as president this same phrase would become his famous slogan in foreign policy.

A carbon copy of the letter can be found and viewed at American Treasures of the Library of Congress.

Answer: Warren G. Harding

Warren G. Harding was used these words in his inaugural speech in 1921. The following is a portion of the speech as viewed on ThisNation.com. "We can reduce the abnormal expenditures, and we will. We can strike at war taxation, and we must. We must face the grim necessity, with full knowledge that the task is to be solved, and we must proceed with a full realization that no statute enacted by man can repeal the inexorable laws of nature. Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government, and at the same time do for it too little. We contemplate the immediate task of putting our public household in order. We need a rigid and yet sane economy, combined with fiscal justice, and it must be attended by individual prudence and thrift, which are so essential to this trying hour and reassuring for the future". An interesting side note. Warren Harding is credited with coining the term "Founding Fathers", using it in an address given to the Republican National Convention.

Answer: George Washington

This fraction of a quote was found in a letter to Alexander Hamilton written by George Washington on August 28, 1788. Washington was responding to a letter that Colonel Hamilton had written to him earlier. Alexander had asked if George would accept "the call of your country in relation to the new government" and proceeded to urge him to do so, stating that "it is indispensable you should lend yourself to its first operations".

It is clear that Alexander wanted Washington to become the first president and he understood the importance of having a strong leader for the formation of the "new government".

Answer: John Adams

John Adams was away studying "the science of government" and wrote a letter home to his wife detailing the heavy burden that he felt called to do and why he was so passionate about it. Taken from the federalistpapers.org, the following is just a piece of the letter that Abigail received on May 12, 1780. "The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."

Answer: James Monroe

The quote referenced above was one James Monroe used often to convey his message and garner support to further his passionate cause and free the American public body from government meddling. President Monroe strongly believed that "America should be self sustaining and free from government interferences".

He wrote the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 in an effort to bring those beliefs to fruition. He wanted to limit the power that government would have over the people and he used his skills as a compromiser to persuade influential members of Congress to achieve his goals. James Monroe worked diligently to bring peace to the people for whom his position was charged to protect.

Answer: "There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses."

On July 10, 1832 President Jackson wrote a veto letter to the Senate in regard to the banking bill that was proposed and entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States". Andrew wrote a very detailed letter explaining his reasons for the veto which included the above mentioned quote. I have included a small section of what was written in the letter found on the Lilian Goldman Law Library web site... "It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society-the farmers, mechanics, and laborers-who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government. (There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses). If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing. In the act before me there seems to be a wide and unnecessary departure from these just principles."

The quote, "Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master" was written by George Washington.
This quote, "That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves" is by Thomas Jefferson, and the final quote, "A decent and manly examination of the acts of the Government should be not only tolerated, but encouraged" is by William Henry Harrison.

Answer: James Madison

James Madison had attended many conventions which were held in Philadelphia, around May of 1787, for the purpose of developing the U.S. Constitution. He took detailed notes at each meeting and argued many points with the group. He felt strongly that the new government should have a checks and balance system, so that no one group would have absolute power.

He presented his ideas which were called "The Virginia Plan" and included his concept of a three branch system of government. The one we use today! The legislative, executive and judicial branches were conceived by Madison and brought to fruition by the selfless acts and countless hours attending those conventions by an amazing group of innovative thinkers of their time.

It was because of James Madison's ideas and great note taking abilities throughout the creation process that he earned the moniker of "Father of the Constitution".

When James heard about the credit and byname he was given, he declared that ("the Constitution was not the off-spring of a single brain, but instead, was the work of many minds and many hands.") The quote in question was one of many that were found in his notes.

Answer: Ronald W. Reagan

Reagan used this quote as part of his speech during the 1968 platform hearings in Miami Florida for the Republican National Convention. "Richard Nixon was being nominated as the GOP candidate in opposition with Hubert Humphrey". Ronald was speaking at the convention debating with the platform committee about the riots which occurred across the nation over the assignation of Martin Luther King Jr.

There were a few members of the Republican Party which wanted policies enacted to help end racism, violence and poverty. Reagan was rebutting against the idea for more social-welfare programs stating that "it is too simple to trace all crime to poverty or color.

There is a crime problem in the suburbs as well as in the slums and the minority communities are victims of crime out of all proportion to their numbers. Criminals are not bigoted and they are not color blind; they...rob and maim and murder without reference to race, religion or neighborhood boundaries. We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.

It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his own actions". Reagan implied that Democrats had mollycoddled and indulged criminals and ignored the victims". Ronald's attendance of this committee hearing became a stepping stone for Reagan and help to propel him towards his own presidency 12 years later. ("Governor Ronald Reagan speech given at a Republican National Convention, Platform Committee Meeting, Miami, Florida, July 31, 1968, Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California")

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln wrote this excerpt in a Letter to Henry Pierce dated April 6, 1859 in response to an invitation for Abraham to speak at a birthday party commemorating Thomas Jefferson. Lincoln was unable to attend due to his demanding schedule. The following is a copy of the closing of that letter taken from the web site "Abraham Lincoln Online"... "This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it. All honor to Jefferson--to the man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times, and so to embalm it there, that to-day, and in all coming days, it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of re-appearing tyranny and oppression.
Your obedient Servant
A. Lincoln"