Date: December 18, 1930
Location: Northampton, MA
(Original document available here)
This universe into which we are born, with all its weaknesses and imperfections, yet with all its strength and progress, is the only one in which we can live, and we may as well make the best of it. The people with whom we come in contact, the business organizations which we have formed and the government we have adopted are the only ones we have and we can hope for improvement only by working with them and for them with all our ability. We cannot receive the benefits of prosperity and escape bearing the burdens of adversity.
Every other nation looks on us with envy. When their governments are being overturned by disorder and revolution, our own country is quiet and orderly, our government is strong and responsive to the needs of the people, and our greatest city is able to contribute over $10,000 an hour for a month for charitable relief.
The moral force of the country, the courage and confidence of the people, the ability to live nobly have been emphasized by our problems. The people of the United States are showing they can meet their obligations to each other and to the world.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Frank Harder who prepared this document for digital publication.