If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

I rather think the time has come when keeping silent, if other people say things of which you cannot approve, is an escape from doing something disagreeable. Everyone has a right to his own opinion and to state it, therefore I do not think one should be heated or angry over what other people say; but if silence seems to give approval, then remaining silent is cowardly. I think one should say, "I have evidently had different experiences from what you have had, and I find on the whole that thus and so seems true." It may lead to an argument and it may require restraint and patience on both sides, but it will often clear up misconceptions and show that there are two points of view, and that it is possible to discuss questions on a reasonable basis even when feelings are involved as well as facts.

His patience and his ability to look at things historically. By that I mean that his vision is not limited by the immediate situation, but he is able to see the background and the future of whatever is under consideration. When he makes a decision he can patiently wait for the outcome; and if it was wrong or partially wrong, he has the patience to begin again.

I have always thought it would be quite possible to have religious education in schools which would not be objectionable to any particular group. One would have to realize that one had children belonging to many different religions and that, therefore, all of them would probably have special teaching in the points stressed by their denominations or religions. All religions have fundamental beliefs which could be incorporated in any teaching, and in which all groups could join. I believe it would be valuable to the children to realize that we lay stress on spiritual values.

I do not know that most little girls want to be actresses. I think all little girls are actresses, but then so are all little boys. Every child I have ever know "imagined" his way through his early life. My earliest ambition was to be a nurse.

Every mother has to decide the question for herself. Whether she keeps on with her work, whatever it may be, or devotes a certain number of years exclusively to her family, or however she arranges it, the decision is a personal one.

As far as I know, my husband has never taken any lessons in public speaking. I took a course with Mrs. von Hesse in learning how to control my breathing and to use my voice, but I have never taken any lessons in public speaking, if you include in that the preparation of material and the presentation of it.

I gather from the newspapers that something is being done. As far as I can learn, it is not legal for a landlord to refuse to take a family with children.

As far as I know, nothing has happened to it! I never was interested in youth movements as such. I have always been interested in young people as individuals, and in any groups which they formed, but I never have considered that we had a real youth movement in this country in the sense that it has existed in European nations. I am just as interested today as I ever have been in young people, and work with them individually or in groups whenever I have the opportunity.

Certainly. I do not see any reason why young women should not have an opportunity to study medicine, though I doubt if they will be used in this war unless it lasts much longer than most of us hope.

No. He would have to move through the United States Employment Service, and the policy is that they do not issue statements of availability or refer workers who are unemployed because of direct connection with a strike.

I think the rule that we have among ourselves is never to interfere with our young people once they are grown up. We allow them to deal with the problems of their own children and try not to impose our ideas upon them. Their lives are their own. We love them, but cannot assume their responsibilities. Outside of that, the ordinary rules of courtesy and consideration for other people, which we feel should apply to one's family as well as among one's friends, certainly make life run more smoothly.

Yes, there is a guest book in the White House and guests are asked to sign it; and, in addition, in the ushers' office a record is kept or everyone who is in the house at all times.

I am afraid that your suggestion would not be possible, because we continue drafting in order to increase our Army with the hope of bringing the war more rapidly to an end. I quite realize that it is hard for older men to make a comeback. Having boys of my own who are older, I know just what that situation is; but even though it is harder for them, I sometimes think that the young boys who never had any civilian life, or any definite civilian work, have less to come back to after they have been torn apart by war, and so have perhaps as hard a time in getting readjusted to civilian existence as the older men.

The President has always had his family with him, as well as a number of people who have been close to him and done really intimate work in any campaign. I have never asked him whether he preferred having his family or the other people. We have just taken it for granted that he would like everybody who has a personal interest to be there if it is possible. Naturally, a great many of his family have hardly ever been with him, for they have been far away, but those who have been within reach have always tried to be on hand.

I think people are happier in marriage when neither one is the boss, but when both of them are willing to give as well as take.