--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are always in life countless…" description: "\"There are always in life countless tendencies for good and for evil, and each succeeding generation sees some of these tendencies strengthened and some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/theodore-roosevelt-218_alas_there-are-always-in-life-countless-tende_504775.jpg" --- # There are always in life countless tendencies for good and… ![“There are always in life countless tendencies for good and for evil, and each succeeding generation sees some of these tendencies strengthened and some weakened; nor is it by any means always, alas! that the tendencies for evil are weakened and those for good strengthened. But during the last few…” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/theodore-roosevelt-218_alas_there-are-always-in-life-countless-tende_504775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/theodore-roosevelt-218_alas_there-are-always-in-life-countless-tende_504775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/theodore-roosevelt-218_alas_there-are-always-in-life-countless-tende_504775.jpg) > “There are always in life countless tendencies for good and for evil, and each succeeding generation sees some of these tendencies strengthened and some weakened; nor is it by any means always, alas! that the tendencies for evil are weakened and those for good strengthened. But during the last few decades there certainly have been some notable changes for good in boy life. The great growth in the love of athletic sports, for instance, while fraught with danger if it becomes one-sided and unhealthy, has beyond all question had an excellent effect in increased manliness.” [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. Human nature contains both good and evil; societies shift these balances over time, with recent positive trends in athletics boosting vigor. **In simple terms:** Good and evil coexist; sports have recently fostered strength. Key Takeaway Recognize societal shifts and support healthy activities. Themes society morality sports masculinity change Mood optimistic analytical Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - community programs - youth sports - public health initiatives Key Concepts social dynamics ethical balance Questions to Reflect On - What positive changes have you observed? - How can we balance sports with other values? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on sports can create unhealthy competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) [Athletic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic/) [Boy Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy-life-576739/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Increased Manliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increased-manliness-4291499/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manliness/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Notable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notable/) [One sided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-sided/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) [Tendencies Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies-evil-4291500/) [Tendencies Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies-good-4291501/) [Unhealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhealthy/) [Weakened Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakened-good-4291502/) ## Related quotes > [The chase is among the best of all national pastimes; it cultivates that vigorous manliness for the lack of which in a nation, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-chase-is-among-the-best-of-all-national-pastimes-it-cultivates/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [A dollar put into a book and a book mastered might change the whole course of a boy's life. It might easily be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-dollar-put-into-a-book-and-a-book-mastered-might-change-the-whole/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“In every boy’s life, there is a girl he’ll never forget and in every girl’s life, there is a boy she’ll never forget!! -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep-nagarkar/in-every-boy-s-life-there-is-a-girl-he-ll-never-forget-and-in-every/) [Sudeep Nagarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep-nagarkar/) > [“It was another of the things he had left behind, another obvious step in a boy's life that he had decided not to take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-giordano/it-was-another-of-the-things-he-had-left-behind-another-obvious-step/) [Paolo Giordano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-giordano/) > [“THERE WAS ALWAYS a boy in your life that common sense and the prayers of parents told you to stay away from: fast talker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-lape/there-was-always-a-boy-in-your-life-that-common-sense-and-the-prayers/) [A.J. Lape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-lape/) > [I've been mainly a happy boy in my life. I married the right girl and we did what we wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-ve-been-mainly-a-happy-boy-in-my-life-i-married-the-right-girl-and/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [I have never slapped a boy in my life except for my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wamiqa-gabbi/i-have-never-slapped-a-boy-in-my-life-except-for-my-brother/) [Wamiqa Gabbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wamiqa-gabbi/) > [If I don't drive then I am not the same person. Ever since I was a small boy this is my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-massa/if-i-don-t-drive-then-i-am-not-the-same-person-ever-since-i-was-a/) [Felipe Massa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-massa/) > [Never let a boy be your life. They can live in your world, but never make a guy your world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/never-let-a-boy-be-your-life-they-can-live-in-your-world-but-never/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [In every girl's life there is a boy that she could never ever forget and in every boy's life there is a girl that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/in-every-girl-s-life-there-is-a-boy-that-she-could-never-ever-forget/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [I think what you are doing is so great, to open up your home to him. Honey you are changing that boy's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-blind-side/i-think-what-you-are-doing-is-so-great-to-open-up-your-home-to-him/) [The Blind Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-blind-side/) > [There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-comes-a-time-in-every-rightly-constructed-boy-s-life-that-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [In Every Girl's Life here Is A Boy She Will Never Ever Forget… & In Every Boy's Life There Is Girl He Can Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinay-lokhandeindia/in-every-girl-s-life-here-is-a-boy-she-will-never-ever-forget-in/) [Vinay LokhandeINDIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinay-lokhandeindia/) > [“I suppose there's a time in practically every young boy's life when he's affected by that wonderful disease of puppy love. I don't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-rawls/i-suppose-there-s-a-time-in-practically-every-young-boy-s-life-when/) [Wilson Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-rawls/) > [There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-comes-a-time-in-every-rightly-constructed-boy-s-life-when-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## 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 Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) [Browse all 453 Alas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are always in life countless tendencies for good and for evil, and each succeeding generation sees some of these tendencies strengthened and some weakened; nor is it by any means always, alas! that the tendencies for evil are weakened and those for good strengthened. 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