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The Man in the Arena – Teddy Roosevelt (A Powerful Speech from History)

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31 Dec 2020


On April 23, 1910, a year after leaving his presidential office, Theodore Roosevelt gave what would become one of his greatest rhetorical triumphs.

The most famous section of his speech still resonates and inspires, even today. It is not the critic who counts.


The Man in the Arena

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,

and 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 the 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 know neither victory nor defeat.


Written Article, Leadership - https://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/2010/04/theodore_roosevelts_the_man_in.html



http://www.worldfuturefund.org/Documents/maninarena.htm



Written Article, Contemporary -

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena



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