The American Boy
by Theodore Roosevelt
What we have a right to expect of the American boy is that he shall turn out to be a good
American man.
The boy can best become a good man by
being a good boy -- not a goody-goody boy,
but just a plain good boy.
I do not mean that he must love only the
negative virtues; I mean that he must love the
positive virtues also. "Good," in the largest
sense, should include whatever is fine,
straightforward, clean, brave and manly.
The best boys I know -- the best men I
know -- are good at their studies or their business, fearless and stalwart, hated and feared
by all that is wicked and depraved, incapable
of submitting to wrongdoing, and equally
incapable of being aught but tender to the
weak and helpless.
Of course the effect that a thoroughly
manly, thoroughly straight and upright boy
can have upon the companions of his own
age, and upon those who are younger, is incalculable.
If he is not thoroughly manly, then they
will not respect him, and his good qualities
will count for but little; while, of course, if he
is mean, cruel, or wicked, then his physical
strength and force of mind merely make him
so much the more objectionable a member of
society.
He can not do good work if he is not strong
and does not try with his whole heart and soul
to count in any contest; and his strength will
be a curse to himself and to every one else if
he does not have a thorough command over
himself and over his own evil passions, and if
he does not use his strength on the side of
decency, justice and fair dealing.
In short, in life, as in a football game, the
principle to follow is: Hit the line hard: don't
foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard.
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