Quotations from
Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt
[1858-1919]

American politician and statesman Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt was Governor of New York and U.S. President, a hero of the Spanish-American War, outdoorsman (hunter and eco-activist), and namesake for the teddy bear.

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The references to WMail issues indicate quotes that appeared in the free monthly 'WMail' ezine
connected with the revolutionary "Working Minds Philosophy of Empowerment" created by G.E. Nordell.

After WMail Issue #72 in October 2007, essays & quotations & news are being posted to the Dateline Chamesa blog

Theodore Roosevelt entry at Wikipedia

Theodore Roosevelt Page
at Spirit of America Bookstore

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right
or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”  {Issue #34}
•      •
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”  {Issue #36}
which has become known as 'The Seasoned Citizens' Contentment Code'

“Do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are.”  {blog 12/2019}
•      •
“No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency.”  {Issue #47}
•      •
“In any moment of decision, the best thing [that] you can do is the right thing, the next best thing
[that] you can do is the wrong thing, and the worst thing [that] you can do is nothing.”  {Issue #66}
•      •
“Great as the provocation has been in dealing with the foes who habitually resort to treachery, murder
and torture against our men, nothing can justify . . . the use of torture or inhumane conduct . . .
on the part of the American Army.” (1902)  {blog 12/2007}
•      •
“All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be
forbidden by law; directors should not be permitted to use stockholders' money for such purposes;
and, moreover, a prohibition of this kind would be, as far as it went, an effective method of stopping
the evils aimed at in corrupt practices acts.”, in 1905  {blog 2/2010}
•      •
“Ruin in its worst form is inevitable if our national life brings us nothing better than swollen fortunes
for the few and the triumph in both politics and business of a sordid and selfish materialism.”
in August 1910 speech  {blog 3/2010}
•      •
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered
by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much
because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”  {blog 5/2010}
•      •
“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
– in a Labor Day speech, 1903   {blog 12/2010}
•      •
“Speak softly and carry a big stick.” – in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair on 2 September 1901  {blog 9/2012}
•      •
“People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  {blog 12/2013}
•      •
“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”  {blog 4/2015}
•      •
“Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.”  {blog 11/2015}
•      •
“Issue of currency should be lodged with the government and be protected from domination by Wall Street. We are opposed
to . . . provisions [which] would place our currency and credit system in private hands.”  {blog 2/2016}
•      •
“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”   {blog 8/2017}
•      •
“Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining.”  {blog 11/2017}
•      •
“I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the State,
the community, the citizens acting together, can do a number of things better than if they were left to individual action.”  {blog 9/2018}
•      •
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty . . . I have never in my life envied a human being
who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”  {blog 10/2018}
•      •
“A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education,
he may steal the whole railroad.”  {blog 10/2021}
•      •
“This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place
for all of us to live in.”  {blog 10/2022}
•      •
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure . . . than to rank with those poor spirits
who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”  {blog 11/2022}

Theodore Roosevelt Quotations Not Yet Used on the Blog

"Man is indeed . ." (in "A & A", 1966)

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