The true doctrine of self-reliance, self-help and self-mastery

The ever rich and varied Hammock Papers has this great quotation from Theodore Roosevelt:

Something can be done by good laws; more can be done by honest administration of the laws; but most of all can be done by frowning resolutely upon the preachers of vague discontent; and by upholding the true doctrine of self-reliance, self-help, and self-mastery. This doctrine sets forth many things. Among them is the fact that though a man can occasionally be helped when he stumbles, yet that it is useless to try to carry him when he will not or cannot walk; and worse than useless to try to bring down the work and reward of the thrifty and intelligent to the level of the capacity of the weak, the shiftless, and the idle.

The doctrine of self-reliance, self-help and self-mastery. Something of a credo for the sovereign professional.

I find that, as a Brit, I know very little about Roosevelt. I need to read more.

 

Image: http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/

This post is also posted on my nascent Sovereign Professional blog, here.

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