Once a week, I post a quote that I’ve read/heard recently. So here’s this week’s Quote I love …

Someone mentioned this quote in one of my writing groups last week. It’s from US President Theodore Roosevelt and has always been one of my favorites. It reminds me that even when something seems hard, seems impossible, seems so out of reach that you wonder why you’re even trying it, that it’s better to give your all and try your best than never to have given it a shot to begin with.

“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 them 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 short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, 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 he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt
26th US President (1901-09)

I recently told a friend an idea for a story I was planning to write. She looked at me like I was crazy. She doesn’t read romance so I tried not to give her opinion much weight. She’s not familiar with the genre, after all. But it did make me question my idea. In those moments, I try to go with my instincts and write the best story I can. Quotes like this help me remember that at least I’m taking a chance and daring greatly.

What do you think of this one? Comment on this post or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by,
Sloan Parker