--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then I remembered something I’d read that…" description: "\"“Then I remembered something I’d read that Teddy Roosevelt had said: “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg" --- # Then I remembered something I’d read that Teddy Roosevelt… ![“Then I remembered something I’d read that Teddy Roosevelt had said: “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…who strives…who spends…” quote by Charlie A. Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg) > ““Then I remembered something I’d read that Teddy Roosevelt had said: “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…who strives…who spends himself…and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”” Charlie A. Beckwith ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True credit belongs to those who act courageously, despite risk of failure, unlike mere critics. **In simple terms:** Courageous action matters more than criticism. Key Takeaway Act boldly, accept possible failure. Themes courage action criticism failure leadership Mood inspirational determined reflective Type Failure:0 Strives:0 Strong man:0 Teddy Roosevelt:0 Roosevelt Said:0 Critic Counts:0 Said Critic:0 When to use this quote - personal development - public speaking - leadership training Key Concepts arena metaphor ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What prevents us from entering the arena? - How can we value effort over outcome? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Strong man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-man/) ## Related quotes > [Teddy Roosevelt... once said, 'Speak softly and carry a big stick.' Jimmy Carter wants to speak loudly and carry a fly swatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/teddy-roosevelt-once-said-speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick-jimmy/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [It is not the critic who counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-not-the-man-who-points-out-how-the-3/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It's not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of the deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-s-not-the-critic-who-counts-nor-the-man-who-points-out-how-the/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It has been rightly said that what a critic wants to understand he must, at one time, have deeply loved, even if only for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-esslin/it-has-been-rightly-said-that-what-a-critic-wants-to-understand-he/) [Martin Esslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-esslin/) > [It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-not-the-man-who-points-out-how-the-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out where the strong man stumbled, nor where the doer of deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-tanenbaum/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-nor-the-man-who-points-out-where-the/) Robert K. Tanenbaum > [“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-not-the-man-who-points-out-how-the/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It's not the critic that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-s-not-the-critic-that-counts/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [No one, Eleanor Roosevelt said, can make you feel inferior without your consent. Never give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/no-one-eleanor-roosevelt-said-can-make-you-feel-inferior-without-your/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [“Three days after a German submarine sank the Lusitania, Wilson addressed an audience of recently naturalized citizens in Philadelphia. "You cannot become thorough Americans",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/three-days-after-a-german-submarine-sank-the-lusitania-wilson/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Theodore Roosevelt once said: “In 1880, I was graduated from Harvard University and then my education began.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-n-cassion/theodore-roosevelt-once-said-in-1880-i-was-graduated-from-harvard/) [Herbert N Cassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-n-cassion/) > [Franklin Roosevelt said the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance to those who have much; it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-kennedy/franklin-roosevelt-said-the-test-of-our-progress-is-not-whether-we/) [Patrick J. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-kennedy/) > [“Because high school only comes around once, and I would hate to look back and think I didn’t make the most of every moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/because-high-school-only-comes-around-once-and-i-would-hate-to-look/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) ## More by Charlie A. Beckwith > [“make a simple plan, inform everyone involved with it, don’t change it, and kick it in the ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-a-beckwith/make-a-simple-plan-inform-everyone-involved-with-it-don-t-change-it/) Charlie A. Beckwith Explore all 2 Charlie A. Beckwith quotes ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Then I remembered something I’d read that Teddy Roosevelt had said: “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…who strives…who spends himself…and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie A. Beckwith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-a-beckwith/then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-that-teddy-roosevelt-had-said-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-a-beckwith/then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-that-teddy-roosevelt-had-said-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/charlie-a-beckwith-91285_failure_then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-tha_806783.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Then I remembered something I’d read that Teddy Roosevelt had said: “It is not the critic who counts, not…” — Charlie A. Beckwith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charlie A. Beckwith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-a-beckwith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Then I remembered something I’d read...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-a-beckwith/then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-that-teddy-roosevelt-had-said-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-a-beckwith/then-i-remembered-something-i-d-read-that-teddy-roosevelt-had-said-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```