We cannot avoid meeting great issues. All that we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them well or ill.
Meaning
Roosevelt told a Chicago audience that a growing nation could not dodge the big questions of its era, only choose how it faced them. Leaders face the same truth at work or at home: the hard conversation is coming either way, so prepare for it rather than hoping it passes.
Source: Speech before the Hamilton Club, Chicago (1899), in The Strenuous Life (1900)
About the author
(1858–1919) was the 26th President of the United States known for his progressive policies and conservation efforts. He expanded national parks and advocated for environmental protection. Roosevelt also played a key role in foreign policy and trust-busting. His leadership style was energetic and reform-oriented. Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy continues to shape American politics and environmental policy.
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