--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The boy who is going to make a great man…" description: "\"The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg" --- # The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up… ![“The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg) > “The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats.” [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. Great achievements require perseverance despite countless setbacks and opposition. **In simple terms:** Success needs persistence despite obstacles. Key Takeaway Persist through challenges to achieve greatness. Themes perseverance determination overcoming adversity leadership Mood determined motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - sports competition - entrepreneurship - personal growth Key Concepts resilience goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance persistence with self‑care? - When is it wise to change tactics? A Different Perspective Endless obstacles can lead to burnout if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boy Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy-going-1085800/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Obstacles Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-win-1642575/) [Overcome Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome-thousand-1642576/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-obstacles-1632625/) [Win Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-spite-1642577/) ## Related quotes > [“I urge the believers to fight; if there be of you twenty steadfast, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/compton-gage/i-urge-the-believers-to-fight-if-there-be-of-you-twenty-steadfast/) [Compton Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/compton-gage/) > [Some minds seem almost to create themselves, springing up under every disadvantage and working their solitary but irresistible way through a thousand obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-seem-almost-to-create-themselves-springing-up-under-every/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [“The least urgent souls on earth with a thousand obstacles and superstitions to interfere with the accomplishment of work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cotterill/the-least-urgent-souls-on-earth-with-a-thousand-obstacles-and/) [Colin Cotterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cotterill/) > [Ride on! Ride on over all obstacles and win the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/ride-on-ride-on-over-all-obstacles-and-win-the-race/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“It's a bad job," he said, when I had done; "but the sun sets every day, and people die every minute, and we mustn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-s-a-bad-job-he-said-when-i-had-done-but-the-sun-sets-every-day-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/ride-on-rough-shod-if-need-be-smooth-shod-if-that-will-do-but-ride-on/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Watch that boy. He's going to startle somebody someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/watch-that-boy-he-s-going-to-startle-somebody-someday/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [“That boy was going to make the world turn, and the stars would fall like rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twist-and-shout/that-boy-was-going-to-make-the-world-turn-and-the-stars-would-fall/) [Twist and Shout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twist-and-shout/) > [“As I watch Nicholas make his way back to his truck, I know one thing: this boy is going to make my life very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-landry/as-i-watch-nicholas-make-his-way-back-to-his-truck-i-know-one-thing/) [Marie Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-landry/) > [“What keeps this boy going...is the intense feeling of not wanting to be alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/what-keeps-this-boy-going-is-the-intense-feeling-of-not-wanting-to-be/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [I am a little boy but I am going to do something really big in times to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junaid-jamshed/i-am-a-little-boy-but-i-am-going-to-do-something-really-big-in-times/) [Junaid Jamshed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junaid-jamshed/) > [Beauty's a doubtful good, a glass, a flower, Lost, faded, broken, dead within an hour; And beauty, blemish'd once, for ever's lost, In spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/beauty-s-a-doubtful-good-a-glass-a-flower-lost-faded-broken-dead/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The creative strength is good enough and deep enough to bring itself to flower and to grow in spite of this sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-greenberg/the-creative-strength-is-good-enough-and-deep-enough-to-bring-itself/) [Joanne Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-greenberg/) > [Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/ring-out-false-pride-in-place-and-blood-the-civic-slander-and-the/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) ## 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."... 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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 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": "The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man-must-not-make-up-his-mind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man-must-not-make-up-his-mind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/theodore-roosevelt-218_failure_the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man_2565311.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles…” — 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": "The boy who is going to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man-must-not-make-up-his-mind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-boy-who-is-going-to-make-a-great-man-must-not-make-up-his-mind/#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 } } ] } ```