Political Quotes

On the record
How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!
Said by
Teddy Roosevelt
Republican · New York

Editor's note · Context

This quote reflects Roosevelt's belief in the importance of active engagement in life rather than passivity.

Share

More from Teddy Roosevelt

Aug 30, 1910

Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.

presidency.ucsb.edu
Aug 30, 1910

Our country—this great Republic—means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy, the triumph of popular government, and, in the long run, of an economic system under which each man shall be guaranteed the opportunity to show…

presidency.ucsb.edu
Mar 1, 1909

The boundaries of said National Forest are now as shown on the said diagram.

presidency.ucsb.edu
Feb 23, 1912

I absolutely agree with you that this matter is not one to be decided with any reference to the personal preferences or interests of any man, but purely from the standpoint of the interests of the people as a whole.

presidency.ucsb.edu

Other voices in this conversation