The Strenuous Life The Works of Theodore Roosevelt, Volume 12 (of 14)

"The Strenuous Life" by Theodore Roosevelt is a collection of speeches and essays written in the late 19th century. The work encourages embracing a vigorous and challenging lifestyle, emphasizing toil, effort, and the overcoming of difficulties as the essence of true success. Roosevelt argues against the pursuit of mere comfort and ease, promoting the idea that greatness, both personal and national, comes from engagement in strenuous endeavors, including war, civic duty, and work for the common good. At the start of the text, Roosevelt passionately addresses the members of the Hamilton Club in Chicago, invoking the American spirit characterized by hard work, courage, and resilience. He underscores the importance of striving for high ideals rather than succumbing to a life of idleness or cowardice. Through historical references, he illustrates that moments of strife and struggle—such as the Civil War—ultimately lead to national greatness and moral rectitude, asserting that a nation or individual that shies away from challenges diminishes their potential and worth. Roosevelt's call to action is not just for personal betterment, but for a collective national responsibility to face hardships head-on and actively engage in the world stage with purpose and integrity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Theodore Roosevelt Jr., often referred to as Teddy or T. R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. He previously was involved in New York politics, including serving as the state's 33rd governor for two years. He was the vice president under President William McKinley for six months in 1901, assuming the presidency after McKinley's assassination. As president, Roosevelt emerged as a leader of the Republican Party and became a driving force for anti-trust and Progressive policies.