Quotes from Theodore Roosevelt

I think there is only one quality worse than hardness of heart, and that is softness of head.

It is essential that there should be organization of labor. This is an era of organization. Capital organizes and therefore labor must organize.

A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.

Our chief usefulness to humanity rests on our combining power with high purpose. Power undirected by high purpose spells calamity, and high purpose by itself is utterly useless if the power to put it into effect is lacking

To waste and destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them.

I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use our natural resources, but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or rob by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.

No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it

For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison.

I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use our natural resources, but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.

Free speech, exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in any country where people are themselves free.

The only tyrannies from which men, women and children are suffering in real life are the tyrannies of minorities.

The one characteristic more essential than any other is foresight... It should be the growing nation with a future which takes the long look ahead.

When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer "Present" or "Not Guilty.

The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.

In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right.

No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor.

No triumph of peace is quite so great as the supreme triumphs of war.

Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.

Malefactors of great wealth.

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.

I took the Isthmus, started the Canal, and then left Congress—not to debate the Canal, but to debate me…. While the debate goes on the Canal does too.

There is a homely adage which runs, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." If the American nation will speak softly and yet build and keep at a pitch of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.