--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us rather run the risk of wearing out…" description: "\"Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.\" — Theodore Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg" --- # Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out. ![“Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg) > “Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.” [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. Active effort and risk are preferable to stagnation and decay. **In simple terms:** Better to try and fail than to do nothing. Key Takeaway Take bold actions despite fear. Themes risk action growth Mood motivational determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal fitness Key Concepts Stoicism American pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking? - How do you avoid burnout while staying active? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to unnecessary loss if reckless. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage and leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-and-leadership/) [Dare to be great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare-to-be-great/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Harness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harness/) [Leadership courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-courage/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-wearing-3005601/) [Run Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-risk-278652/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rust/) [Rusting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rusting-2862842/) [Teddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teddy/) [Wearing Rusting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-rusting-3005600/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [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...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/) > [For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-us-is-the-life-of-action-of-strenuous-performance-of-duty-let-us/) [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/) > [A soft, easy life is not worth living, if it impairs the fibre of brain and heart and muscle. We must dare to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/a-soft-easy-life-is-not-worth-living-if-it-impairs-the-fibre-of-brain/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..who errs, who comes short again and again; but who does actually strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is-actually-in-the-arena-who-errs/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let us live in the harness, striving mightily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-live-in-the-harness-striving-mightily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“And I don’t care how they feel. They don’t have to rusting like us. What matters is what they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/and-i-don-t-care-how-they-feel-they-don-t-have-to-rusting-like-us/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“The planet’s famous red colour is from iron oxide coating everything. So it’s not just a desert. It’s a desert so old it’s literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/the-planet-s-famous-red-colour-is-from-iron-oxide-coating-everything/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [With knowledge there is no hope,... without hope I would sit motionless, rusting like unused armor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/with-knowledge-there-is-no-hope-without-hope-i-would-sit-motionless/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I tell you, I'm never going to stop. I'm not interested in rusting away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-biondi/i-tell-you-i-m-never-going-to-stop-i-m-not-interested-in-rusting-away/) [Dick Biondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-biondi/) > [Sometimes things you write are messages to yourself. Even though I think my stuff has a particular voice because you are who you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/sometimes-things-you-write-are-messages-to-yourself-even-though-i/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [There's lots of opportunities out there in life, but if you never put yourself out on a limb and take chances you'll never dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-griese/there-s-lots-of-opportunities-out-there-in-life-but-if-you-never-put/) [Brian Griese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-griese/) > [“Dare to seize all the opportunities on your paths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/dare-to-seize-all-the-opportunities-on-your-paths/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“It is possible for you to realise your dream as a scientist, you must be a passionate learner and curious enough to seek this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-possible-for-you-to-realise-your-dream-as-a-scientist-you-must/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## 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 Courage and leadership quotes > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes over night. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/courage-is-more-exhilarating-than-fear-and-in-the-long-run-it-is/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witter-bynner/a-leader-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists/) [Witter Bynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witter-bynner/) > [Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run, it is easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/courage-is-more-exhilarating-than-fear-and-in-the-long-run-it-is-2/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [In life, if you don't risk anything, you risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/in-life-if-you-don-t-risk-anything-you-risk-everything/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-good-manager-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists-not-so/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Except a person be part coward, it is not a compliment to say he is brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/except-a-person-be-part-coward-it-is-not-a-compliment-to-say-he-is/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stengel/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear/) [Richard Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stengel/) > [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/) > [In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/in-periods-where-there-is-no-leadership-society-stands-still/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/be-gentle-and-you-can-be-bold-be-frugal-and-you-can-be-liberal-avoid/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Leadership is not for the faint of heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/leadership-is-not-for-the-faint-of-heart/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [Courage isn't the absence of fear; it's the dealing with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-tex-cobb/courage-isn-t-the-absence-of-fear-it-s-the-dealing-with-it/) [Randall "Tex" Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-tex-cobb/) > [A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/a-true-leader-has-the-confidence-to-stand-alone-the-courage-to-make-2/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) [Browse all 24 Courage and leadership quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-and-leadership/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-out-than-rusting-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage and leadership" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-out-than-rusting-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/theodore-roosevelt-218_courage-and-leadersh_let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-ou_1117322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.” — 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": "Let us rather run the risk...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-out-than-rusting-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-out-than-rusting-out/#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 } } ] } ```