First Fireside Chat: Compassion Quotes

True, this line is about as short as it gets. But what does it accomplish? Roosevelt could have started his chat any number of ways (a common one today is "my fellow Americans"), but by choosing these words he immediately sets the tone of compassion and understanding. By saying "my friends" Roosevelt puts himself on more equal footing with the common man, and links himself to the public through more than just being their president.

Transparency shows that Roosevelt trusts his people enough to fill them in on the details. He's being compassionate by saying they deserve to know what's going on. By opening up to his people, FDR builds trust and continues the sense of friendship.

By referencing ye olde mattress trick, Roosevelt shows the people that he knows what they're going through. This is actually a super-powerful move. Think about it—Roosevelt almost certainly wasn't hiding money under his mattress, nor had he ever had to in his life.

By simply referring to this practice, he makes a connection with the average citizen and probably made them smile inside, as if to say, "Hey, I guess other people are doing that too…" Of course, he also throws in another "my friends" which never hurts.

Notice the "more important than gold" part here. The problem is money, right? The economic situation is horrible, right? Shouldn't gold be the single most important thing at this point in time?

Yet Roosevelt says that it's the people and their confidence that are more important than anything else. Suggesting that his people are more important than money, during a time of severe economic depression, is about as compassionate as it gets.

FDR's famous last line comes up often, and for good reason. In one fell swoop he connects himself to the common man, shares in the struggle, and gives hope for the future.