One man who thought a great deal about how to raise up his sons as strong vibrant masculine men was Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, our 26th President. At his island memorial in Virginia you can see a collection of his words to his sons on how to grow up and become a man. Consideration of these quotes may in part help answer the question, Can you teach masculinity?:
Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt Island Quotes
Youth
I want to see you game boys, I want to see you brave and manly and I also want to see you gentle and tender.
Be practical as well as generous in your ideas. Keep your eyes on the stars but remember to keep your feet on the ground.
Courageous hard work, self mastery, and intelligent effort are all essential to successful to life.
Alike for the nation and the individual, the one indispensable requisite is character.
Manhood
A man’s usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals as so fast as he can.
It is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
All daring and courage, all ironed endurance of misfortune make for a finer and nobler type of manhood.
Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die, and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy of life and the duty of life.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
