Hi there,for today’s post I thought I would share one of my fav pieces of literature.This speech is by Theodore Roosevelt ,famously known as The man in the arena.I would really recommend if you appreciate reading this speech to truly understand it’s meaning!
The man in the arena-Theodore Rooselvelt
‘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."
I must add I was taken aback while writing this post, the speech says it all yet to summarize this speech, was difficult for me. After going through a dozen summaries and sort of forming my thoughts I realized what is the difference between the man in the arena and the critic or the person who points out the mistake. The difference was the man in arena,he or she risked failure, humiliation and defeat. Which every human being fear.We fear failure,losing and making mistakes yet it learning from those losses is what makes us ourselves.
The credit belongs to the man in the arena as it was him who made a mistake and moved on.It was that person who was vulnerable and worked hard day in and day out.The man in the arena realises that there is no effort without error.She or he knows great enthusiams and devotions.The man in the arena inpsires himself to be better each day. I quote the blog Constant Renewal {link given below}” No statue has ever been erected in honor of a critic”.
As Roosevelt states the man in the arena at the end will face a great victory and if not he fails but at least his soul shall never be with those cold and timid souls, who never experienced a victory nor a loss. These souls do not serve their purpose. I hope this speech inspires you my friend to go back into the arena and if you fall, get up! You got this.
Thankyou for reading!