April 15, 2024
"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."
Theodore Roosevelt, in a speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, once said, “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." These words, spoken over a century ago, continue to resonate deeply in today’s hyper-critical world.
In every field, whether it be sports, business, art, or technology, critics abound. Social media and the internet have amplified voices that point out errors, sometimes overshadowing the achievements of those actually "in the arena." It’s easy to forget the struggle, the sweat, the sheer effort it takes to step into these battlefields every day.
Roosevelt’s speech praises not the victor or the vanquished but the fighter. He highlights the beauty in the effort itself—"whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again." Success is not in flawless execution but in the perseverance through error and shortcoming.
The journey to achievement is inherently laden with missteps. Yet, each mistake teaches a lesson that perfect execution never could. This learning curve is steep, but for those who dare, it is also rich with insights that no critic can provide.
The essence of Roosevelt’s message is the celebration of the human spirit and courage. "Who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause." It’s about the push to keep going, the determination to try again after failing—not just once but repeatedly.
There’s an unmatched dignity in risking failure. As Roosevelt says, those who fail but dare greatly will never "be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." To attempt is to detach from the sidelines of safety and expose oneself to the potential of defeat, but also to the possibility of transcendent achievement.
For anyone stepping into their own arenas, whatever they may be, remember that the critic does not count. The world may try to measure you by your failures, but the mere act of trying sets you apart from those who never venture beyond comfort.
Let us choose to be in the arena, faces marred by effort, enriched by passion, and spirited by devotion. Let’s celebrate not just achievements but also the courage to pursue them. In a world quick to judge, be slower to criticize and quicker to commend. After all, the real heroes are those who dare greatly.
In echoing Roosevelt’s words, we find a timeless call to action—not just to do, but to be. In every endeavor, may we strive, may we err, and above all, may we dare.
