To borrow a simile from the football field, we believe that men must play fair, but that there must be no shirking, and that the success can only come to the player who ‘hits the line hard.’ – Theodore Roosevelt
The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. – Theodore Roosevelt
Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage. – Theodore Roosevelt
Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe. – Theodore Roosevelt
Far better is it 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 a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. – Theodore Roosevelt
Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones. – Theodore Roosevelt
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. – Theodore Roosevelt
A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. – Theodore Roosevelt
Believe you can and you’re halfway there. – Theodore Roosevelt
A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user. – Theodore Roosevelt
Optimism is a good characteristic, but if carried to an excess, it becomes foolishness. – Theodore Roosevelt
A healthy-minded boy should feel hearty contempt for the coward and even more hearty indignation for the boy who bullies girls or small boys, or tortures animals. – Theodore Roosevelt
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 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 no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. – President Theodore Roosevelt
I have always been fond of the West African proverb: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense… We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less. The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us. – Theodore Roosevelt
It is no use to preach to [children] if you do not act decently yourself. – Theodore Roosevelt
Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground. – Theodore Roosevelt
The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name.” “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. – Theodore Roosevelt
I never keep boys waiting. It’s a hard trial for a boy to wait. – Theodore Roosevelt
The worst of all fears is the fear of living. – Theodore Roosevelt
Don’t hit at all if you can help it; don’t hit a man if you can possibly avoid it; but if you do hit him, put him to sleep. – Theodore Roosevelt
There were all kinds of things I was afraid of at first, ranging from grizzly bears to ‘mean’ horses and gun-fighters; but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to be afraid. – Theodore Roosevelt
I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well. – Theodore Roosevelt
Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster. – Theodore Roosevelt
This country has nothing to fear from the crooked man who fails. We put him in jail. It is the crooked man who succeeds who is a threat to this country. – Theodore Roosevelt
Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly gone down to the brink of the chasm of darkness to bring back the children in whose hands rests the future of the years. – Theodore Roosevelt
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