Since former US President Theodore Roosevelt delivered his famous speech in Paris on April 23, 1910, sections of it have been repeatedly quoted all over the world. One particular paragraph stands out from all the rest, and more than a century after these words were first spoken they continue to encourage and inspire millions of people:
“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.”
In this day and age of the 24-hour news cycle and constant online commentary, both on and offline critics abound. As I wrote in my article Examples Over Opinions a few weeks ago, we all have opinions. And now more than ever, those opinions have the opportunity to be voiced.
So no matter where you turn and what you do, you are going to face criticism. But this seems to be especially true for those who step up and strive to do something truly good or great.
Never, never, never forget this truth! When you are criticized—and you will be—simply remember and recite this everlasting truth to yourself… and then step up again and move forward. Ignore the self-righteous, self-centered critics.
YOU are the one who is actually in the arena; YOU are the one who strives valiantly; YOU are the one who spends yourself in a worthy cause. So remember it is not the critic who counts. It is YOU! Continue to dare greatly.
