"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

— Letter to Henry L. Sprague (26 January 1900), invoking a West African proverb

Famous Roosevelt formulation.

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

— Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt

Widely attributed Roosevelt leadership line.

"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."

— Third Annual Message to Congress (1903)

Verified presidential message.