Herbert Hoover popularized the phrase “rugged individualism” in 1928 as a warning against state collectivism. Nearly a century of history has helped illustrate what he meant. @HooverInst.
"We were challenged with a peace-time choice between the American system of rugged individualism and a European philosophy of ... doctrines of paternalism and state socialism. The acceptance of these ideas would have meant the destruction of self-government through centralization of government. It would have meant the undermining of the individual initiative and enterprise through which our people have grown to unparalleled greatness."
- Herbert Hoover (October 22, 1928)
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/rugge…
"We were challenged with a peace-time choice between the American system of rugged individualism and a European philosophy of ... doctrines of paternalism and state socialism. The acceptance of these ideas would have meant the destruction of self-government through centralization of government. It would have meant the undermining of the individual initiative and enterprise through which our people have grown to unparalleled greatness."
- Herbert Hoover (October 22, 1928)
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/rugge…
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