“We shall make mistakes; and if we let these mistakes frighten us from our work we shall show ourselves weaklings.”

— Theodore Roosevelt, "National Duties", address at the Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, 2 September 1901

About Theodore Roosevelt

1858 – 1919

Twenty-sixth President of the United States, known for his 1910 speech "Citizenship in a Republic".

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...”

“The worst lesson that can be taught a man is to rely upon others and to whine over his sufferings.”

“Is America a weakling, to shrink from the work of the great world powers?”

“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

“He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.”

“Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel.”

“The electron is a theory we use; it is so useful in understanding the way nature works that we can almost call it real.”

“I still believe that when people really make the effort to understand each other, the possibilities are limitless.”

“Nothing should be made by man's labour which is not worth making; or which must be made by labour degrading to the makers.”