Man in the Arena

There are two famous quotes that I enjoy reading over and over. The first is The Man in the Arena I will get to the second on another day.

Though this quote is directed toward a different audience of April 23, 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt lauded the men and women who struggled against the rugged environment and an enemy determined to keep them tied to the throne. I think he would also provide it today and address all tough individuals taught by the savagery of taming a slow yielding land and determined to move on with a brighter future. Many would sneer and say, "you cannot do this", or "don't cause trouble here, we have it good."

The determined heroes sweat, strain, bleed, and suffer. They know their relief lies in the great future they build for their children as well as preservation of values and a quality life.

For those who laugh at struggles and say "I told you so," when progress is slow should at least understand:
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 errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.