Thursday, October 13, 2005

If you know my story, you know why this quote matters to me

"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 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 and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for 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 he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."


"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

2 comments:

NodakJack said...

Good quote.
Here's another one: "Bring it on."

Gene said...

Now Jack,

I guess I was trying to say that this sentiment resonated with me because it says much about the struggle I have had to get back from the abyss a couple times in life. The last 4 years ago.

But, In life too. Maybe "Bring it On" is a valid quote for those of us who have fought and won. I think you might be one of them. You impress me not just as a survivor but as an overcomer. I hope I'm right.