Americanism is a question of principle, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace, or creed, or line of descent.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Taking action is better than inaction, even if the choice leads to mistakes.
This quote by Theodore Roosevelt emphasizes the importance of making decisions and taking action, especially during critical moments. It suggests that even making the wrong choice is preferable to sitting idle and doing nothing, as inaction can lead to missed opportunities and stagnation.
Themes
DecisionActionInactionMotivationChoice
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a leadership conference discussing the importance of decisive action.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
All quotes →It tires me to talk to rich men. You expect a man of millions, the head of a great industry, to be a man worthhearing; but as a rule they don't know anything outside their own business.
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Conservation means development as much as it does protection._x000D_ _x000D_ A man's usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals insofar as he can.
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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 them 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 at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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