Communication Quote by Brené Brown
““THE phrase Daring Greatly is from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech “Citizenship in a Republic.” The speech, sometimes referred to as “The Man in the Arena,” was delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910. This is the passage that made the speech famous: “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.…””
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Man in the Arena, Theodore Roosevelt, 1910 (cited by Brené Brown)
True value lies in those who dare to act, accept mistakes, and persist, not in idle critics.
In simple terms: Courageous effort matters more than criticism.
Key Takeaway
Take bold action, accept failure, keep striving.
Themes
courage
effort
criticism
resilience
Mood
inspirational
empowering
Type
speech
motivational
When to use this quote
- entrepreneurship
- sports
- creative projects
Key Concepts
risk‑taking
personal growth
public scrutiny
Questions to Reflect On
- What arena are you hesitant to enter?
- How do you handle criticism while staying courageous?
A Different Perspective
Critics can offer useful feedback; dismissing them entirely may hinder improvement.
