James Drogan

I have, from time to time, called to the attention of my students and correspondents the following quotation of Theodore Roosevelt.

"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 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 up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for 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 he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

"Citizenship in a Republic"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Dave, who I have mentioned from time to time in this blog, advises me that, while the quote is a good one, it is the entire speech that should be considered.

After reading the speech I agree.  It reminds us of our responsibilities as individuals; it reminds us of those fundamental values that provide the basis for peaceful progress.

I, in turn, recommend it to you. 

Citizenship in a Republic