Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil. Our great hope lies in developing what is good.

Coolidge contrasts a purely negative moral program—trying to suppress vice—with a constructive one that cultivates virtue. The quote suggests that social reform and personal improvement are more durable when they build institutions, habits, and character that encourage good conduct rather than relying chiefly on prohibition, punishment, or censorship. Implicit is a pragmatic view of human behavior: removing temptations or condemning wrongdoing may limit harm temporarily, but lasting “progress” comes from education, opportunity, and positive moral formation. The line also reflects a broader civic philosophy often associated with early 20th‑century public discourse: strengthening what is admirable in individuals and communities is a more hopeful lever for change than fighting evil alone.