Courage Quote by 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 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.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: "Citizenship in a Republic", Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
The quote celebrates those who take bold action despite risks, valuing effort and courage over criticism or perfection.
In simple terms: Bold effort matters more than criticism.
Key Takeaway
Act courageously, accept failure as part of growth.
Themes
courage
effort
leadership
risk
perseverance
Mood
determined
inspired
reflective
Type
motivational
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political activism
- entrepreneurship
- sports competition
- personal challenges
Key Concepts
heroism
resilience
public service
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you avoid challenges for fear of criticism?
- How can you turn setbacks into learning?
A Different Perspective
Critics may offer useful feedback that can improve outcomes.
