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100+ Inspiring Teddy Roosevelt Quotes: Timeless Wisdom for Success

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Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was a larger-than-life figure known for his dynamic leadership, passion for nature, and bold declarations. This article brings you the essence of his philosophy through a curated collection of quotes that span a variety of themes such as courage, leadership, perseverance, and optimism. These quotes not only encapsulate his vigorous spirit but also impart timeless wisdom that holds relevance in today's fast-paced world. Whether you seek motivation, insight, or a touch of historical inspiration, Teddy Roosevelt's words remain as powerful and evocative today as they did during his time.

Courage Quotes

  • "Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength."
  • "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
  • "It is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
  • "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."
  • "Believe you can and you're halfway there."
  • "With self-discipline almost anything is possible."
  • "Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out."
  • "The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything."
  • "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."
  • "I am a part of everything that I have read."
  • "People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives."
  • "Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage."

Leadership Quotes

  • "The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it."
  • "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
  • "It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
  • "The government is us; we are the government, you and I."
  • "When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all."
  • "No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency."
  • "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."
  • "Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft!"
  • "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society."
  • "Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones."
  • "In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing."
  • "Our chief usefulness comes in exacting from others the progress we exact from ourselves."

Perseverance Quotes

  • "The only time you really fail is when you fall down and stay down."
  • "With a spirit of perseverance and determination, anything is possible."
  • "Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering."
  • "Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind."
  • "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal."
  • "There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still."
  • "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
  • "We must all either wear out or rust out, every one of us. My choice is to wear out."
  • "Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty."
  • "It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy, and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
  • "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month."
  • "Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all."

Optimism Quotes

  • "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
  • "Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground."
  • "The joy in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
  • "Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young."
  • "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month."
  • "The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing."
  • "When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on."
  • "The world belongs to those who dare."
  • "Always believe you can change an obstacle into an opportunity."
  • "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
  • "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."
  • "Do what you can with all you have, wherever you are."

Nature Quotes

  • "There is delight in the hardy life of the open."
  • "In a few years, it will be expedient to establish national parks to conserve the beauties of nature."
  • "Never wasting time or energy hurrying and striving, always ready to take the time to stand still and wait until the slow, consuming process was accomplished."
  • "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."
  • "We need the tonic of wildness."
  • "It seems to me that when the heaven-born instinct for solitude is once gone, you should go to the country and get rid of it."
  • "Among the Europeans, their doctrines on private property are all derived from Justinian; Quarry, whence did the Romans derive theirs?"
  • "I am simply an advocate for the preservation of nature."
  • "There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country."
  • "The farther one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom."
  • "Birds fly over fields and forests."
  • "A walk through the woods should be like going to church."

Strength Quotes

  • "Believe you can and you're halfway there."
  • "Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength."
  • "With self-discipline almost anything is possible."
  • "The only time you really fail is when you fall down and stay down."
  • "When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on."
  • "There can be no life without striving."
  • "Strength is the product of struggle."
  • "Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft."
  • "Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out."
  • "When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all."
  • "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."
  • "The best thing you can do is the right thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing."

Action Quotes

  • "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
  • "It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
  • "Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster."
  • "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
  • "Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones."
  • "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."
  • "Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind."
  • "Our chief usefulness comes in exacting from others the progress we exact from ourselves."
  • "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 much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
  • "Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young."
  • "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month."
  • "The best thing you can do is the right thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing."

Success Quotes

  • "The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who does nothing."
  • "The light has gone out of my life."
  • "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."
  • "Believe you can and you're halfway there."
  • "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
  • "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
  • "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month."
  • "There can be no life without striving."
  • "Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones."
  • "The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing."
  • "The joy in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
  • "Always believe you can change an obstacle into an opportunity."

Resilience Quotes

  • "The only time you really fail is when you fall down and stay down."
  • "With a spirit of perseverance and determination, anything is possible."
  • "Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering."
  • "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
  • "Believe you can and you're halfway there."
  • "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."
  • "Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young."
  • "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."
  • "There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still."
  • "Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength."
  • "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month."
  • "Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground."

Wisdom Quotes

  • "Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right."
  • "People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives."
  • "The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it."
  • "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
  • "It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things."
  • "Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage."
  • "Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones."
  • "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."
  • "In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing."
  • "Our chief usefulness comes in exacting from others the progress we exact from ourselves."
  • "Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft."
  • "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society."

Final words

These quotes from Teddy Roosevelt reflect the indelible mark he left on history as a person of action, strength, and deep intellect. Rooted in robust ideals of courage, leadership, and perseverance, his words resonate with those pursuing greatness and personal growth. Roosevelt's dedication to nature and conservation emphasize the importance of protecting our planet. Through these quotes, we recognize the essence of resilience and the wisdom to seize opportunities, no matter how daunting they may seem. As we navigate our own paths, may we draw inspiration from his undying optimism and unwavering resolve. Whether in moments of triumph or challenge, these quotes of Roosevelt serve as timeless beacons guiding us towards a life well-lived, urging us to be resilient, compassionate, and bold. His legacy, enshrined in these powerful words, continues to inspire and propel generations toward actions of consequence and meaning.

Discover over 100 powerful quotes from Teddy Roosevelt that offer timeless wisdom and motivation for success. Dive into the thoughts of a legendary leader and let his words inspire your journey today.

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