“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
I like to think that Theodore Roosevelt came to this conclusion horseback, somewhere in the Badlands, as he battled through the grief of losing his wife and his mother on the same day. After their deaths, he bought a ranch and spent two years hunting big game and cowboying before he could return to a life of politics and academia. Somewhere in the plains of the Dakotas, Roosevelt gave himself credit for showing up. For being the man in his arena and for facing the perils of his life.
In reality, this quote was given in Paris, France, to a large crowd as Roosevelt toured Europe and Africa, speaking to various groups post-presidency. From what I’ve read, the speech he gave varied in topics, but the French loved his imagery of a warrior fighting his own battle, failing and standing up again to face whatever came his way.
Roosevelt is the youngest person to ever hold the title of President of the United States. He assumed office after the assassination of President William McKinley and remained there for eight years. Roosevelt’s presidency is famed as successful, making large strides in both foreign policy and the conservation of U.S. soil. He battled asthma his entire life but learned at a young age that being active helped stave off symptoms. He remarried and won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War.
While Roosevelt’s life was largely in the public spotlight and his arena was attended by many, ours might not be the same. We have a different arena, with different battles we’re facing and different critics in the stands. Our arena feeds the world, and while some deem that a noble cause, others try to make it difficult for us. Our battles might be that of the weather, market prices, equipment issues, labor shortages or herd health problems. Maybe we’re not sure where to start when it comes to succession planning, or unsure how to invest in sustainable practices for our operation. Keeping calves healthy, getting cows pregnant, avoiding mastitis outbreaks, adjusting to a new management practice can prove to be difficult at different points in our careers.
Sometimes the arena and the battles can be overwhelming, but don’t forget: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” The one who “strives valiantly” and “knows great enthusiasms and devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause.”
What cause is more worthy than feeding the world?
