Monday, September 7, 2009

It's Not the Critic That Counts

"It is not the critic that 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 short again and again, becuase there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, "The Man in the Arena", Paris, 1910

1 comment:

  1. This is good ~ thanks for sharing it. It reminded me of the following verse - - "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth" We need to be "HOT" in our deeds . . .not be the critic. Lord, help me not to be the critic but to be the doer . . ."

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