Theodore Roosevelt Quotes - Page 3

• The man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic -- the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Writing, Men, Doe

  New York ch. 14 (1891) See Theodore Roosevelt 2; Theodore Roosevelt 5; Theodore Roosevelt 18

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• Character is far more important than intellect in making a man a good citizen or successful at his calling- meaning by character not only such qualities as honesty and truthfulness, but courage, perseverance and self-reliance.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Perseverance, Honesty, Character

  Theodore Roosevelt, Paul H. Jeffers (1998). “The Bully Pulpit: A Teddy Roosevelt Book of Quotations”, p.21, Taylor Trade Publications

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• Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Leadership, Presidential, Sticks

  Letter to Henry L. Sprague, 26 Jan. 1900

  82 Copy quote

• With a great moral issue involved, neutrality does not serve righteousness; for to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Issues, Doe, Neutrality

  Theodore Roosevelt (1954). “1914-1919”

  23 Copy quote

• A soft, easy life is not worth living, if it impairs the fibre of brain and heart and muscle. We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage... For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Running, Heart, Sacrifice

  Theodore Roosevelt (1926). “The Works of Theodore Roosevelt”

  29 Copy quote

• The joy of living is his who has the heart to demand it. Life is a great adventure, and I want to say to you, accept it in such a spirit.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Heart, Adventure, Joy

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• The leader works in the open and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Leadership, Boss, Outstanding Leaders

  Theodore Roosevelt (1926). “The Works of Theodore Roosevelt”

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• There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Brother, Inspiration, Men

  Theodore Roosevelt (2015). “Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century”, p.44, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• Everything is un-American that tends either to government by a plutocracy or government by a mob. To divide along the lines of section or caste or creed is un-American. All privileges based on wealth, and all enmity to honest men merely because they are wealthy, are un-American-both of them equally so. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Men, America, Safety

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• Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of today.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Responsibility, Government, America

  68 Copy quote

• Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Wisdom, Courage, Gentleman

  Theodore Roosevelt (2015). “Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century”, p.31, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• One of the fundamental necessities in a representative government such as ours is to make certain that the men to whom the people delegate their power shall serve the people by whom they are elected, and not the special interests. I believe that every national officer, elected or appointed, should be forbidden to perform any service or receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, from interstate corporations; and a similar provision could not fail to be useful within the States.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Believe, Men, People

  Theodore Roosevelt (2004). “Letters and Speeches”

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• I do not dislike but I certainly have no especial respect or admiration for and no trust in, the typical big moneyed men of my country. I do not regard them as furnishing sound opinion as respects either foreign or domestic business.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Country, Business, Men

  47 Copy quote

• You cannot create prosperity by law. Sustained thrift, industry, application, intelligence, are the only things that ever do, or ever will, create prosperity. But you can very easily destroy prosperity by law.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Law, Prosperity, Application

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• Any political movement directed against any body of our fellow-citizens because of their religious creed is a grave offense against American principles and American institutions. It is a wicked thing either to support or oppose a man because of the creed he possesses. . . . Such a movement directly contravenes the spirit of the Constitution itself.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Religious, Men, Political

  Theodore Roosevelt (2005). “Fear God and Take Your Own Part”, p.358, Cosimo, Inc.

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• 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.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Inspirational, Relationship, Leadership

  Theodore Roosevelt (2015). “Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century”, p.75, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• Our loyalty is due entirely to the United States. It is due to the President only and exactly to the degree in which he efficiently serves the United States. It is our duty to support him when he serves the United States well. It is our duty to oppose him when he serves it badly. This is true about Mr. Wilson now and it has been true about all our Presidents in the past. It is our duty at all times to tell the truth about the President and about every one else, save in the cases where to tell the truth at the moment would benefit the public enemy.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Loyalty, Past, Support

  Theodore Roosevelt (1941). “Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia”

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• The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Love, Inspirational, Wisdom

  Theodore Roosevelt (1954). “Letters: The days of Armageddon, 1909-1914”

  60 Copy quote

• I believe in corporations. They are indispensable instruments of our modern civilization. But I believe they should be so regulated that they shall act for the interests of the community as a whole.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Believe, Civilization, Community

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• Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Strength, Peace, Thorough Knowledge

  Theodore Roosevelt (2015). “Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century”, p.37, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

  42 Copy quote

• From the greatest to the smallest, happiness and usefulness are largely found in the same soul, and the joy of life is won in its deepest and truest sense only by those who have not shirked life's burdens.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Happiness, Joy, Soul

  Theodore Roosevelt (2015). “Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century”, p.96, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Wisdom, Children, Names

  Theodore Roosevelt, Paul H. Jeffers (1998). “The Bully Pulpit: A Teddy Roosevelt Book of Quotations”, p.24, Taylor Trade Publications

  32 Copy quote

• To announce that there must be no criticism of the president... is morally treasonable to the American public.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Peace, War, Freedom Of Speech

  Theodore Roosevelt (2012). “In the Words of Theodore Roosevelt: Quotations from the Man in the Arena”, p.146, Cornell University Press

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• Life brings sorrows and joys alike. It is what a man does with them - not what they do to him - that is the true test of his mettle.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  War, Men, Joy

  66 Copy quote

• The best lesson that any people can learn is that there is no patent cure-all which will make the body politic perfect, and that any man who is able glibly to answer every question as to how to deal with the evils of the body politic is at best a foolish visionary and at worst an evil-minded quack.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Men, People, Evil

  Theodore Roosevelt (2006). “History as Literature and Other Essays”, p.191, Cosimo, Inc.

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