"A man's usefulness depends on his living..." - Quote by Theodore Roosevelt
A man's usefulness depends on his living up to his ideals insofar as he can. It is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. All daring and courage, all iron endurance of misfortune, make for a finer, nobler type of manhood. Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die; and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy of life and the duty of life.
More by Theodore Roosevelt
“Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shrink neither.”
“More and more, as it becomes necessary to preserve the game, let us hope that the camera will largely supplant the rifle.”
“[Among the books he chooses, a statesman] ought to read interesting books on history and government, and books of science and philosophy; and really good books on these subjects are as enthralling as any fiction ever written in prose or verse.”
More on Life Purpose
“We tried in our simple way to lead our life in a manner that may make a difference to those of others.”
“Think where man's glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.”
“One great question underlies our experience, whether we think aboutit or not: what is the purpose of life? From the moment of birthevery human being wants happiness and does not want suffering.Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this.>From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment.Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about thegreatest degree of happiness.”
More on Ideals
“We must be physicists in order to be creative since so far codes of values and ideals have been constructed in ignorance of physics or even in contradiction to physics.”
“There is one thing that the American people always rise to and extend their hand to and that is the truth of justice, and of liberty, and of peace. We have accepted that truth and we are going to led by itand through us the world, out into pastures of quietness and peace such as the world never dreamed of before.”
“Destroy my desires, eradicate my ideals, show me something better, and I will follow you.”