30 Powerful Roosevelt Quotes That Ignite Courage & Leadership

Roosevelt's words—whether from Theodore or Franklin D.—carry an unmistakable blend of grit, conviction, and practical wisdom. Quotes can spark courage, steady leadership, and renewed purpose when you need a push: use them as morning mantras, meeting openers, presentation slides, social posts, or private reminders to keep going. Below are 30 powerful Roosevelt quotes organized to help you find the right line for the moment.

Motivational quotes

• "Believe you can and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "I am only an average man, but, by George, I work harder at it than the average man." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month." — Theodore Roosevelt

Leadership quotes

• "People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it." — Theodore Roosevelt

Courage quotes

• "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Life wisdom quotes

• "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "To educate a person in the mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future." — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Success & achievement quotes

• "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing is to do nothing." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything." — Theodore Roosevelt
• "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user." — Theodore Roosevelt

Daily inspiration quotes

• "Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But by all means try something." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "We must be the great arsenal of democracy." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." — Theodore Roosevelt

Quotes can be short sparks or long-burning reminders—use them to change the mood of a day, anchor a meeting, or steady your actions when the stakes feel high.

In short, Roosevelt quotes pack energy and ethics into one line: they challenge you to act, lead with purpose, and face fear with clear resolve. Keep a few favorites visible—on your phone lock screen, notebook, or office wall—and let them reshape your mindset one prompt at a time.