If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by, and will win for themselves the domination of the world.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Avoiding struggle and seeking ease allows stronger nations to dominate.
- In plain terms
- If you seek easy peace, others will take over.
- What can you take from it?
- Embrace hard contests to maintain standing.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is peace worth the cost?
- What risks must we take?
Another view
Not all contests are worth pursuing at all costs.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
No man is justified in doing evil on the grounds of expediency.
Permalink to quote #35 In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard.
Permalink to quote #37 Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Permalink to quote #34
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