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It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at 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 or defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt#20

CourageEffortSuccessCriticismFailure

About this quote

What does it mean?
Real honor belongs to those who take risks and struggle, not to critics who judge from the sidelines.
In plain terms
Respect those who try and fail, not those who criticize.
What can you take from it?
Courage and effort matter more than perfection.

Where it applies

  • competition
  • leadership
  • public life

Putting it to work

  • take risks
  • ignore critics
  • keep trying

Questions to consider

  • Are you spending time criticizing or doing?
  • What would you risk for a worthy cause?

Another view

It overlooks the value of constructive criticism from experts.

More from Theodore Roosevelt

  1. To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in t…

    Permalink to quote #19
  2. Every man holds his property subject to the general right of the community to regulate its use to whatever degree the public welfare may require it.

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. Malefactors of great wealth.

    Permalink to quote #18

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