Theodore Roosevelt, known as “Teedie”–later “Teddy”, was frail and sickly as a boy. As a teenager, he followed a program of gymnastics and weightlifting to build up his strength.
Roosevelt, not quite 43, became the 26th and youngest President in the Nation’s history (1901-1909). He brought new excitement and power to the office, vigorously leading Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy.
Early in his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt sparked a scandal when he invited the African-American educator Booker T. Washington to dine with him and his family; he was the first president ever to entertain an African American in the White House.
During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rider Regiment, which he led on a charge at the battle of San Juan. And, as President, Roosevelt held the ideal that the Government should be the great arbiter of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation, especially between capital and labor, guaranteeing justice to each and dispensing favors to none.
Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics. He liked to quote a favorite quote, “Speak softly and carry a big stick. . . . ”
Aware of the strategic need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific, Roosevelt ensured the construction of the Panama Canal. His corollary to the Monroe Doctrine prevented the establishment of foreign bases in the Caribbean.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War, reached a Gentleman’s Agreement on immigration with Japan, and sent a fleet of sixteen warships on a world tour. The ships were painted white to symbolize peace, and eventually they became known as the “Great White Fleet.” Roosevelt viewed the tour as part of his “Big Stick” diplomacy.
Theodore Roosevelt believed that we should all work hard and devote ourselves to a worthwhile cause. He showed incredible wisdom and insight. His quotes continue to inspire many Americans to work hard on their dreams:
“The person who succeeds is not the one who holds back, fearing failure, nor the one who never fails but rather the one who moves on in spite of failure.”
“Dreams are a dime a dozen. it’s their execution that counts.”
“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”
“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, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; 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 fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
“The chief factor in any man’s success or failure must be his own character — that is, the sum of his common sense, his courage, his virile energy and capacity. Nothing can take the place of this individual factor.”
“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.”
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
“The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.”
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”
“We cannot do great deeds unless we are willing to do the small things that make up the sum of greatness.”
“Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.”
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”
“Far better it 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 gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
Roosevelt was big on taking full responsibility for your life and making a valuable contribution to the world. Nothing worth having comes easy but if you’re working toward a purpose and love what you do then you’ll enjoy the journey. For success is a journey.
References:
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/theodore-roosevelt/
- https://www.nps.gov/thri/theodorerooseveltbio.htm
- https://succeedfeed.com/theodore-roosevelt-quotes/
- https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/theodore-roosevelt
- https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/44567.Theodore_Roosevelt