The Man in the Arena
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, 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 the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, 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 or defeat."
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
(Paris Sorbonne,1910)
I've posted this quote on my blog at least once before. It is meaningful to me. It inspires me when I think of my faults and inabilities. A few years back as the CIO of a young and aggressive startup I taped this quote to my monitor and read it every morning as I started the work day. I'd also read it when things were going badly.
Tom Watson used this quote in his closing speech at the 1993 Ryder Cup. It was a fitting tribute to all the competitors. Watson was going to use this quote no matter who won.
10:18:39 PM 
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