In this post, I celebrate the wit and wisdom of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26^th President of the United States, and notably his important message regarding the difference between doers and critics.

Theodore Roosevelt was just 42 years old when he became the 26^th President of the United States and is still the youngest person to serve in that key leadership position. He wore many hats throughout his life including president, governor, soldier, family man, author, conservationist, outdoorsman, equal rights advocate, and more.

His message regarding “the man in the arena” – someone who is involved with taking action – and “not the critic” – those who sit on the sidelines and find fault, are prophetic and on point. Roosevelt said the following during a speech in Paris in 1910 and his words are as accurate and important today as they were 116 years ago. Note that his use of the word “man” apply to all human beings.

“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 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.”¹

Action and criticism were not new themes to the President when he made his Man in the Arena speech. Back in 1891 he said, “The man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic, but the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done.”²

And in 1894 Roosevelt said, “Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable, but it can never take the place of action or even be a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger.”³

Theodore Roosevelt’s advice is clear. Be a doer. Take action. Get your hands dirty. Don’t just talk about something, become involved in making it happen. And while some constructive criticism can help, the one whose point of view holds the most merit is the one who also refuses to stand on the sidelines without lifting a finger to help.

REMEMBER

◊ “Believe you can and you’re halfway there,” President Theodore Roosevelt said. “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”⁴

◊ He also said, “Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind…. Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”⁵

◊ Visit the Theodore Roosevelt Association website at www.theodoreroosevelt.org for more information about this great American and world leader.

◊ Or tour the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, next door to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. For more information and tickets, visit www.trlibrary.com.

◊ This blog post is an excerpt from Dave’s upcoming book manuscript, Take This With You…100 Messages to Accompany You on Your Life Journey, that is currently in revisions. Visit www.davidajolley.com for additional blog posts, other interesting content, and updates on future book releases and appearances.

1. Roosevelt, Theodore; Theodore Roosevelt Association, www.theodoreroosevelt.org ↩︎
2. Roosevelt, Theodore; Theodore Roosevelt Association, www.theodoreroosevelt.org ↩︎
3. Roosevelt, Theodore; Theodore Roosevelt Association, www.theodoreroosevelt.org ↩︎
4. Roosevelt, Theodore; Brainy Quote, www.brainyquote.com/authors/theodore-roosevelt-quotes ↩︎
5. Roosevelt, Theodore; Brainy Quote, www.brainyquote.com/authors/theodore-roosevelt-quotes ↩︎