We Are All in the Same Boat Now

Based on Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s papers, this study investigates his reliance on proverbs, sententious remarks, and proverbial expressions. References are cited in their context, showing his effective use of quotations, Bible and folk proverbs, and metaphorical phrases. The book includes an index of the many sententious and proverbial passages.

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The book is based on Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speeches, press conferences, proclamations, and letters. The eleven chapters of the first part deal with his interest in language, his proverbial vision in his four inaugural addresses, his “four freedoms” phrase, his proverbial language for world peace, his reliance on quotations, his propensity to coin sententious remarks, his dependence on Bible proverbs, his use of folk proverbs, his employment of proverbial phrases, his reliance on animal metaphors, and his use of maritime phrases. The second part provides a comprehensive index of the many passages that include proverbial references. The study shows that Roosevelt was a great communicator, persuader, and at times manipulator. His effective use of proverbial language added much figurative expressiveness to his communications. The phrase “We ae all in the same boat now” serves as a fitting image for his worldview of dealing with the depression, the war, and the hope for peace.