Last Updated on February 24, 2024
Table of Contents
“Speak softly but carry a big stick; you will go far.”
This West African proverb is probably one of the most-known statements that marked the term of the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909.
The assassination of then-President William McKinley made Theodore Roosevelt, going 43, the youngest president in the nation’s history. Progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy paved the way for the United States’ place in the international political theater.
His view of the president being “a steward of the people” should take any and all actions needed for the public good unless expressly forbidden by the law through the Constitution.
Accomplishments of Teddy Roosevelt as US President

Roosevelt’s progressive strategies inside the United States earned him his reputation as a “trust buster”, focusing on breaking up large businesses that either bought out rivals, or set arrangements that stifled competition. He sought to regulate the trusts he believed harmful to the public.
The need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and the Pacific led to the construction of the Panama Canal under Teddy Roosevelt’s administration. This system gave the United States more authority on matters involving South America and prevented foreign powers from establishing bases in the Caribbean.
Roosevelt’s other achievements were in conservation that not only dealt with environment protection, but also ensured that society as a whole benefitted from the country’s natural resources.
He saw how labor unrest could cripple the United States national build-up if not remedied. That’s why his administration initiated negotiations between company owners and the growing number of labor union members.
More than a US President, Theodore Roosevelt was also an author, soldier, explorer, and naturalist. Get to know the man behind the statesman through these thought-provoking Teddy Roosevelt quotes.
Inspirational Teddy Roosevelt Quotes
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.”
“I am a part of everything that I have read.”
“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
“To educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”
“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
“A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.”
“Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.”
“There is only one quality worse than hardness of heart and that is softness of head.”
“In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: hit the line hard.”
“The men and women who have the right ideals… are those who have the courage to strive for the happiness which comes only with labor and effort and self-sacrifice, and those whose joy in life springs in part from power of work and sense of duty.”
“We need the iron qualities that go with true manhood. We need the positive virtues of resolution, of courage, of indomitable will, of power to do without shrinking the rough work that must always be done.”
“At sometime in our lives a devil dwells within us, causes heartbreaks, confusion and troubles, then dies.”
“We must remember not to judge any public servant by any one act, and especially should we beware of attacking the men who are merely the occasions and not the cause of disaster.”
“Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive.”
“Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.”
“Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.”
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
“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, who 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 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 neither know victory nor defeat.”
“The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.”
“When you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.”
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”
“When you play, play hard; when you work, don’t play at all.”
“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.”
“People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives.”
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
“Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.”
“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
“With self-discipline, almost anything is possible.”
“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”
“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.”
“Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.”
“Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time.”
“Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.”
“Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.”
“I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!”
“No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.”
“This country has nothing to fear from the crooked man who fails. We put him in jail. It is the crooked man who succeeds who is a threat to this country.”
“A stream cannot rise larger than its source.”
“It is impossible to win the great prizes of life without running risks, and the greatest of all prizes are those connected with the home.”
“If I must choose between peace and righteousness, I choose righteousness.”
“Peace is normally a great good, and normally it coincides with righteousness, but it is righteousness and not peace which should bind the conscience of a nation as it should bind the conscience of an individual; and neither a nation nor an individual can surrender conscience to another’s keeping.”
“All the resources we need are in the mind.”
“Our chief usefulness to humanity rests on our combining power with high purpose. Power undirected by high purpose spells calamity, and high purpose by itself is utterly useless if the power to put it into effect is lacking.”
Tags: 15 brave quotes to inspire you to be yourself 15 facts about franklin d roosevelt 2016 quotes about love 2016 sayings and quotes 3 facts about teddy roosevelt 3 facts about theodore roosevelt 3 interesting facts about teddy roosevelt 3 letters from teddy story 50 50 quotes about life a courage quote a man with a purpose quotes a soldier is never off duty quotes according to roosevelt what is the source of happiness addressing a former president all about teddy roosevelt amazing facts teddy roosevelt american greatness quotes american quotes short and i said to my body softly quote anti fear quotes anti happiness quotes are fdr and teddy roosevelt related asthma sayings attitude era quotes awesome real life quotes back to the future memorable quotes background of theodore roosevelt bad things about teddy roosevelt bad things theodore roosevelt did bad trust quotes badass country quotes badass japanese quotes badass police quotes badass quotes about success badass quotes from history badass theodore roosevelt be courageous and kind quotes before becoming president in 1901 theodore roosevelt had been being brave quotes and sayings best compromise quotes best daring quotes best fdr quotes best quotes about courage and strength best quotes about resilience best quotes on democracy best quotes on resilience best roosevelt quotes best teddy roosevelt biography best teddy roosevelt quotes black nationalism quotes brainy quotes theodore roosevelt brave attitude quotes call of duty character quotes call of duty world at war teddy bear challenges theodore roosevelt faced cold and timid souls quote commissioner roosevelt compromise friendship quotes congress funny quotes cool manly quotes courage and commitment quotes courage and hard work quotes courage and strength quotes and sayings courage sayings quotations courage slogans courageous leadership quotes cowboy courage quotes dates fruit quotes define greatness quotes dinosaur reading quotes do what's right for you quotes does teddy roosevelt deserve to be on mount rushmore eddie roosevelt endeavor to persevere quote origin era roosevelt ethical hunting quotes every effort counts quotes facts about theodore roosevelt's presidency false patriotism quotes family is worth fighting for quotes famous quotes about public service famous quotes from franklin roosevelt famous quotes of defeat famous roosevelt quotes famous theodore fdr american badass quotes fdr and teddy fdr and teddy roosevelt related fdr big deal fdr famous quotes fdr fear quote fdr inspirational quotes fdr quotes fdr quotes during ww2 fdr quotes ww2 fdr sayings fdr terms served fighting quotes for work find progressive quote franklin and theodore roosevelt franklin d roosevelt and theodore roosevelt franklin d roosevelt famous quotes franklin d roosevelt foreign policy accomplishments franklin d roosevelt job before president franklin d roosevelt quotes franklin d roosevelt quotes on success franklin d roosevelt rise to power franklin delano roosevelt definition franklin delano roosevelt memorial quotes franklin delano roosevelt quotes franklin roosevelt fear quote franklin roosevelt nobel peace prize franklin roosevelt quotes franklin roosevelt quotes success franklin roosevelt quotes world war 2 franklin roosevelt quotes ww2 franklin roosevelt wwi fun facts about roosevelt funny football fails funny inspirational leadership quotes funny leadership quotes from the office funny loyalty quotes funny patriotic quotes funny physical education quotes funny pictures of theodore roosevelt funny quotes about patriotism funny quotes for head boy speech funny quotes on achievement funny teddy roosevelt quotes funny theodore roosevelt quotes good man vs bad man quotes good political leader quotes good politician quotes good quotes about courage and strength gray twilight that knows neither victory great fdr quotes great victory quotes hard and soft quotes hardness of life quotes heartless man quotes how are teddy and fdr roosevelt related how are teddy roosevelt and fdr related how did theodore roosevelt became president how is teddy roosevelt related to franklin roosevelt how many terms did franklin d roosevelt serve how many terms did franklin roosevelt serve how many terms did president roosevelt serve how many terms did roosevelt serve as president how many terms did teddy roosevelt serve how many years did roosevelt serve how old was teddy roosevelt when he was president how teddy roosevelt became president how was roosevelt a progressive president how was teddy roosevelt and fdr related if he fails he fails greatly if success was easy quote important events during theodore roosevelt presidency inaugural address of theodore roosevelt inspirational brave quotes inspirational quotes about family conflict inspirational quotes about government inspirational quotes about military service inspirational quotes about our country inspirational quotes about the past inspirational quotes for a good man inspirational quotes on courage and leadership inspirational quotes to be brave interesting facts about teddy roosevelt is theodore roosevelt related to franklin roosevelt it is only through labor and painful effort it's not the critic who counts full speech it's not the critic who counts quote law enforcement love quotes life difficulties quotes sayings life quotes courage life quotes risk lip sayings quotes living without family quotes losing bad friends quotes lost energy quotes love risk quotes man in the arena quote by theodore roosevelt manly friendship quotes manly quotes about relationships marriage conflict quotes meddling family quotes mens depression quotes motivational quotes from presidents motivational speech on endurance new movie about teddy roosevelt next president after teddy roosevelt not ready for commitment quotes nothing comes easy quotes nothing worth having comes easy meaning nothing worth having comes easy roosevelt obama quotes teddy roosevelt party preparation quotes patriotism quote roosevelt political parties will be the downfall of this nation quote positive quotes about congress positive quotes about the industrial revolution president franklin roosevelt quotes president roosevelt quotes president roosevelt quotes on courage president teddy roosevelt quotes president theodore roosevelt president theodore roosevelt definition president theodore roosevelt quotes presidents during the progressive era problem quotes about family problems theodore roosevelt faced as president progressive era quotes progressive era teddy roosevelt progressive quotes by theodore roosevelt qoutes for courage quote about effort quote key not working quote of the day courage quote on doing hard things quotes about bad men in relationships quotes about being resilient quotes about being soft quotes about being timid quotes about boy problems quotes about compromise in life quotes about courage to be yourself quotes about failed plans quotes about family sticking together through hard times quotes about hope and resilience quotes about loving a strong man quotes about nationalism in ww1 quotes about perseverance in the face of adversity quotes about political campaigns quotes about the devil being busy quotes about values and virtues quotes about victory and hard work quotes about working hard for family quotes during the industrial revolution quotes from teddy roosevelt about the spanish american war quotes on courage and determination quotes on political parties in india quotes on resilience in sports quotes on softness r quotes real rider quotes relation between franklin roosevelt and theodore roosevelt resilience quotes funny respect the president quotes rest in peace cowboy quotes rising strong quote roosevelt risk quotes about love roosevelt accomplishments roosevelt brain trust definition roosevelt carry a big stick quote roosevelt daring greatly quote roosevelt family crest roosevelt fear roosevelt fear quote roosevelt nature quotes roosevelt on courage roosevelt politics roosevelt quote about the arena roosevelt quote on patriotism roosevelt quotes roosevelt quotes about war roosevelt reforms list roosevelt service roosevelt stick quote roosevelt theodore franklin roosevelt theodore quotes rough man quotes rough riders definition us history rough riders quotes savage nature quotes short loyalty sayings slogan about courage slogan on victory of good over evil small badass quotes soft short quotes spanish american war quotes strength in softness quotes success and excellence quotes success quotes in spanish sweat martin quotes t roosevelt quotes ted famous quotes teddy love quotes teddy quotes teddy quotes for him teddy ro teddy roosevelt 1910 teddy roosevelt accomplishments list teddy roosevelt american quote teddy roosevelt and fdr teddy roosevelt and franklin roosevelt teddy roosevelt arena quote teddy roosevelt bad president teddy roosevelt before his presidency teddy roosevelt big business teddy roosevelt birthday teddy roosevelt campaign slogan teddy roosevelt commissioner teddy roosevelt conservation quotes teddy roosevelt crazy facts teddy roosevelt critic quote teddy roosevelt daring greatly quote teddy roosevelt definition teddy roosevelt during the progressive era teddy roosevelt facts teddy roosevelt famous quotes teddy roosevelt fdr teddy roosevelt get action quote teddy roosevelt goals teddy roosevelt governor of new york teddy roosevelt hard work quote teddy roosevelt house nyc teddy roosevelt hunting quotes teddy roosevelt imperialism quotes teddy roosevelt inauguration teddy roosevelt italian quote teddy roosevelt leadership quotes teddy roosevelt man in the arena quotes teddy roosevelt military history teddy roosevelt motivational quotes teddy roosevelt new nationalism teddy roosevelt on patriotism teddy roosevelt patriotism teddy roosevelt patriotism quote teddy roosevelt presidency teddy roosevelt president years teddy roosevelt progressive era teddy roosevelt quote it's not the critic that counts teddy roosevelt quote on courage teddy roosevelt quote the arena teddy roosevelt quotes teddy roosevelt quotes about nature teddy roosevelt quotes big stick teddy roosevelt quotes decision making teddy roosevelt quotes funny teddy roosevelt quotes nature teddy roosevelt quotes on fatherhood teddy roosevelt quotes on nature teddy roosevelt quotes president teddy roosevelt quotes stick teddy roosevelt related to franklin roosevelt teddy roosevelt ring quote teddy roosevelt rough riders quotes teddy roosevelt sayings teddy roosevelt speech its not the critic teddy roosevelt strength teddy roosevelt teddy bear value teddy roosevelt the critic quote teddy roosevelt the rock of democracy quote teddy roosevelt timid souls quote teddy roosevelt war teddy roosevelt war quotes teddy roosevelt ww1 teddy roosevelt's parents occupations teddy roosevelt's position on trusts temperance quotes the government should fear the people quote the man in the arena quote meaning the other teddy roosevelts the past is history quote the rock insults quotes the true grit of four american presidents the world belongs to those who show up quote theodore and franklin roosevelt theodore and franklin roosevelt related theodore delano roosevelt biography theodore roosevelt 1910 speech citizenship in a republic theodore roosevelt 50 50 quote theodore roosevelt a cowboy's ride to the white house theodore roosevelt accomplishments theodore roosevelt after presidency theodore roosevelt americanism quote theodore roosevelt and fdr theodore roosevelt and franklin roosevelt theodore roosevelt bad theodore roosevelt best known for theodore roosevelt biography summary theodore roosevelt birthday theodore roosevelt business theodore roosevelt citizenship in a republic quote theodore roosevelt conservation quotes theodore roosevelt courage quote theodore roosevelt critic quote theodore roosevelt dad theodore roosevelt daring greatly quote theodore roosevelt definition theodore roosevelt dinosaur theodore roosevelt do what you can with what you have theodore roosevelt e franklin roosevelt theodore roosevelt economic accomplishments theodore roosevelt economy theodore roosevelt failure quote theodore roosevelt family theodore roosevelt famous for theodore roosevelt famous quotes theodore roosevelt father theodore roosevelt fdr theodore roosevelt fear quote theodore roosevelt first term accomplishments theodore roosevelt football quote theodore roosevelt friends theodore roosevelt fun facts theodore roosevelt get action theodore roosevelt governor new york theodore roosevelt growing up theodore roosevelt historian theodore roosevelt inauguration theodore roosevelt inspirational quotes theodore roosevelt last day in office theodore roosevelt life accomplishments theodore roosevelt motto theodore roosevelt nobel peace prize speech theodore roosevelt obstacles theodore roosevelt on education theodore roosevelt on ww1 theodore roosevelt patriotism quote theodore roosevelt plan theodore roosevelt primary sources theodore roosevelt problems during presidency theodore roosevelt progressive theodore roosevelt progressive era theodore roosevelt progressive era quotes theodore roosevelt quote about arena theodore roosevelt quote on failure theodore roosevelt quotes theodore roosevelt quotes about politics theodore roosevelt quotes about president theodore roosevelt quotes do what you can theodore roosevelt quotes on government theodore roosevelt quotes on hunting theodore roosevelt quotes on leadership theodore roosevelt quotes on work theodore roosevelt quotes politics theodore roosevelt quotes president theodore roosevelt role in the conservation movement theodore roosevelt self discipline quote theodore roosevelt spanish american war quotes theodore roosevelt standing theodore roosevelt the man in the arena meaning theodore roosevelt thoughts theodore roosevelt trust busting theodore roosevelt us president theodore roosevelt what was he known for theodore roosevelt wife and children theodore roosevelt ww1 theodore roosevelt's famous quotes theodore roosevelt's greatest achievement theodore white quotes things theodore roosevelt accomplish as president thomas roosevelt quotes top gun sayings useless family quotes walk quietly carry a big stick walk softly and carry a big stick meaning war motto quotes was teddy roosevelt a good president was teddy roosevelt governor of new york was theodore roosevelt a good president were teddy and franklin roosevelt related what challenges did franklin d roosevelt overcome what did roosevelt do what did theodore roosevelt die from what did theodore roosevelt do what did theodore roosevelt do in the progressive era what did theodore roosevelt love what does it mean to be an american quotes what famous quote did franklin roosevelt say what good things did theodore roosevelt do what is president theodore roosevelt best known for what is teddy roosevelt famous for what is the relationship between theodore and franklin roosevelt what is theodore roosevelt best known for what is theodore roosevelt famous for what is theodore roosevelt most famous for what is theodore roosevelt most known for what material does the navy trust above all others what number president is theodore roosevelt what number president was t roosevelt what number president was theodore roosevelt what political party was theodore roosevelt what war was teddy roosevelt in what was president roosevelt's attitude towards monopolies what was theodore roosevelt known for what was theodore roosevelt most known for when teddy roosevelt became president when was teddy roosevelt governor of new york where did franklin d roosevelt grew up which of the following was teddy roosevelt known for who was president after theodore roosevelt who was president before teddy roosevelt who was teddy roosevelt's father why did roosevelt serve 4 terms why was teddy roosevelt a good president why was theodore roosevelt a good leader why was theodore roosevelt a good president words to describe teddy roosevelt work hard at work worth doing quote work worth doing worst leadership quotes 
Posted by:Igor Ovsyannnykov
Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams. When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.
ncG1vNJzZmihnqi9qr7AraCoppaasqV6wqikaKyVmbG6edGopqydppq5tXnQrqatnaNk
Share!