Theodore Roosevelt

Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.

If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt - 1916 (quoted in the Theodore Roosevelt Centennial CD-ROM)
Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.

The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent, experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it, if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

While my interest in natural history has added very little to my sum of achievement, it has added immeasurably to my sum of enjoyment in life.

A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.
Theodore Roosevelt - Theodore Roosevelt, an autobiography
Of all forms of tyranny the least attractive and the most vulgar is the tyranny of mere wealth, the tyranny of plutocracy.
Theodore Roosevelt - Speech in Chicago, 3 Apr. 1903
There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." If the American nation will speak softly, and yet build and keep at a pitch of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.
Theodore Roosevelt - "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic, is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things.

When I say I believe in a square deal i do not mean ... to give every man the best hand. If the cards do not come to any man, or if they do come, and he has not got the power to play them, that is his affair. All I mean is that there shall be no crookedness in the dealing.

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, he who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat".

The great virtue of my radicalism lies in the fact that I am perfectly ready, if necessary, to be radical on the conservative side.
Theodore Roosevelt - last words, 6 January 1919
Put out the light.

Do what you can with what you have where you are.

It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic, is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things.
Theodore Roosevelt - The Man in the Arena
Far better is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.
Theodore Roosevelt - Labor Day speech at Syracuse, NY, Sept 7, 1903 ("Theodore Rex" - Edmund Morris)
The death-knell of the republic had rung as soon as the active power became lodged in the hands of those who sought, not to do justice to all citizens, rich and poor alike, but to stand for one special class and for its interests as opposed to the interests of others.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt - Speech in New York, September 7, 1903
Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.

Do what you can with what you have, where you are.

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.

Nine-tenths of wisdom consists in being wise in time.
Theodore Roosevelt - An Autobiography
Practical efficiency is common, and lofty idealism not uncommon; it is the combination which is necessary, and the combination is rare
Theodore Roosevelt - Paris, Sorbonne 1910
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer "Present" or "Not Guilty."

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt - sign posted at his grave site
Spend and be spent.

- Theodore Roosevelt