--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is of far more important that a man…" description: "\"It is of far more important that a man shall play something himself, even if he plays it badly, than that he shall go with hundreds of companions to se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg" --- # It is of far more important that a man shall play… ![“It is of far more important that a man shall play something himself, even if he plays it badly, than that he shall go with hundreds of companions to see someone else play well.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg) > “It is of far more important that a man shall play something himself, even if he plays it badly, than that he shall go with hundreds of companions to see someone else play well.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal participation, even imperfect, is more valuable than merely observing others' expertise. **In simple terms:** Do it yourself, even if not perfect. Key Takeaway Engage actively. Themes self-reliance experience learning Mood encouraging determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - hobbies - community events - skill development - team projects Key Concepts personal growth hands‑on practice Questions to Reflect On - What activity would you try despite in skill? - How does practice improve confidence? A Different Perspective Fear of failure may deter participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [In foreign affairs we must make up our minds that, whether we wish it or not, we are a great people and must play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-foreign-affairs-we-must-make-up-our-minds-that-whether-we-wish-it-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [We shall play every game to the hilt with every ounce of fiber we have in our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/we-shall-play-every-game-to-the-hilt-with-every-ounce-of-fiber-we/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [And now, with the aid of this common beer glass, I shall play my fifty guinea solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-baker/and-now-with-the-aid-of-this-common-beer-glass-i-shall-play-my-fifty/) Kenny Baker > [How then shall they have the play-games you allow them, if none must be bought for them?" I answer, they should make them themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/how-then-shall-they-have-the-play-games-you-allow-them-if-none-must/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“My part is not a heroic one, but I shall play my part.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anouilh/my-part-is-not-a-heroic-one-but-i-shall-play-my-part/) [Jean Anouilh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anouilh/) > [“What shall I do now? What shall I do?" I shall rush out as I am, and walk the street "With my hair down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/what-shall-i-do-now-what-shall-i-do-i-shall-rush-out-as-i-am-and-walk/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [Our swords shall play the orators for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/our-swords-shall-play-the-orators-for-us/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [I shall play Scarlett O'Hara.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-shall-play-scarlett-o-hara/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [“He was part of us and when he died all the actions stopped dead, and there was no one to do them just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/he-was-part-of-us-and-when-he-died-all-the-actions-stopped-dead-and/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It's important to me that a man is good at taking care of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-vancamp/it-s-important-to-me-that-a-man-is-good-at-taking-care-of-people/) [Emily VanCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-vancamp/) > [“YOU HAVE THE POWER TO KEEP THE LOVE ALIVE BUT TAKING IN CONSIDERATION WHAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR MAN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/you-have-the-power-to-keep-the-love-alive-but-taking-in-consideration/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [The best and most important part of every man's education is that which he gives himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-best-and-most-important-part-of-every-man-s-education-is-that/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“She had seen Holden on the newsfeeds and reports. At the beginning of the war between Mars and the Belt, he had been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/she-had-seen-holden-on-the-newsfeeds-and-reports-at-the-beginning-of/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [The things that are really important to me are my man, my animals and my books. I don't need anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-crosby/the-things-that-are-really-important-to-me-are-my-man-my-animals-and/) [Mary Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-crosby/) > [Every fight in my life is important because the man standing across from me is there to beat me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermell-charlo/every-fight-in-my-life-is-important-because-the-man-standing-across/) [Jermell Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermell-charlo/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Companion quotes > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-accept-the-fact-that-we-have-only-one-companion-in-this/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I and my companions suffer from a disease of the heart which can be cured only with gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-and-my-companions-suffer-from-a-disease-of-the-heart-which-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The adult who puts his arm around his companion in the ballroom, and the child in the roadway, skipping in a round dance -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-sachs/the-adult-who-puts-his-arm-around-his-companion-in-the-ballroom-and/) [Curt Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-sachs/) > [True, the fragile bodies of his fellows do not weigh down his plane; true, the fretful minds of weaker men are missing from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/true-the-fragile-bodies-of-his-fellows-do-not-weigh-down-his-plane/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [God is our portion, Christ our companion, the Spirit our Comforter, Earth our lodge, and Heaven is our home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-is-our-portion-christ-our-companion-the-spirit-our-comforter/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The thing that counts most in the pursuit of happiness is choosing the right companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/the-thing-that-counts-most-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-is-choosing/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [ \[A cat\] will make itself the companion of your hours of work, of loneliness, or of sadness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/a-cat-will-make-itself-the-companion-of-your-hours-of-work-of/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The burning soul, the burden'd mind, In books alone companions find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-josepha-hale/the-burning-soul-the-burden-d-mind-in-books-alone-companions-find/) [Sarah Josepha Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-josepha-hale/) [Browse all 1,106 Companion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is of far more important that a man shall play something himself, even if he plays it badly, than that he shall go with hundreds of companions to see someone else play well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-shall-play-something-himself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Companion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-shall-play-something-himself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/theodore-roosevelt-218_companion_it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-s_147923.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is of far more important that a man shall play something himself, even if he plays it badly, than that he…” — Theodore Roosevelt", "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": "Theodore Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is of far more important...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-shall-play-something-himself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-of-far-more-important-that-a-man-shall-play-something-himself/#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 } } ] } ```