IT IS NOT
CRITIC WHO COUNTS; NOT THE MAN
HOW THE STRONG MAN STUMBLES,
WHO POINTS OUT
OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE THEM
BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS
ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA,
WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY
DUST
SWEAT o' BLOOD
STRIVES VALIANTLY
ERRS
comes SHORT AGAIN & AGAIN
BECAUSE THERE IS NO EFFORT
WITHOUT ERROR AND SHORTCOMING,
BUT WHO DOES ACTUALLY STRIVE TO DO THE DEEDS; WHO
KNOWS GREAT ENTHUSIASMS, THE GREAT DEVOTIONS; WHO
SPENDS HIMSELF IN 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 FAILS WHILE
DARING GREATLY,
SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND
TIMID SOULS WHO NEITHER KNOW VICTORY NOR DEFEAT.
EXCERPT FROM IN THE ARENA" BY: THEODORE ROOSEVELT
babybunintheoven.com