Theodore Roosevelt

"I have always been fond of the West African proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.""

"By God, if you try anything like that, Ill kick you, Ill bite you, Ill kick you in the balls. Ill do anything to you — youd better leave me alone."

"The light has gone out of my life."

"There is a curse on this house."

"No candid observer will deny that whatever of good there may be in our American civilization is the product of Christianity."

"The most vicious cowboy has more moral principle than the average Indian."

"I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indian is the dead Indian, but I believe nine out of every ten are, and I shouldn’t like to inquire too closely into the case of the tenth."

"We need, in the interest of the community at large, a rigid system of game laws rigidly enforced, and it is not only admissible, but one may almost say necessary, to establish, under the control of the State, great national forest reserves, which shall also be breeding grounds and nurseries for wild game; but I should much regret to see grow up in this country a system of large private game preserves, kept for the enjoyment of the very rich."

"There is much talk about "jingoism". If by "jingoism" they mean a policy in pursuance of which Americans will with resolution and common sense insist upon our rights being respected by foreign powers, then we are "jingoes"."

"The worst lesson that can be taught a man is to rely upon others and to whine over his sufferings."

"It is both foolish and wicked to teach the average man who is not well off that some wrong or injustice has been done him, and that he should hope for redress elsewhere than in his own industry, honesty and intelligence."

"There are two things that I want you to make up your minds to: first, that you are going to have a good time as long as you live – I have no use for the sour-faced man – and next, that you are going to do something worthwhile, that you are going to work hard and do the things you set out to do."