Theodore Roosevelt

Optimism is a good characteristic, but if carried to an excess, it becomes foolishness. We are prone to speak of the resources of this country as inexhaustible; this is not so.

Theodore Roosevelt

Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive.

Theodore Roosevelt

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.

Theodore Roosevelt

Our surest protection against assault from abroad has been not all our guards, gates and guns, or even our two oceans, but our essential goodness as a people. Our richest asset has been not our material wealth but our values.

Theodore Roosevelt

Ours is a government of liberty by, through, and under the law. A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy.

Theodore Roosevelt

Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.

Theodore Roosevelt

Performance should be made square with promise.

Theodore Roosevelt

Perhaps there is no more important component of character than steadfast resolution.

Theodore Roosevelt

Personally I have never been able to understand why the head of a big business, whether it be the nation, the state or the army, or navy should not desire to have very strong and positive people under him.

Theodore Roosevelt

Power always brings with it responsibility.

Theodore Roosevelt