It’s not the critic who counts;

Nor the person who points out how the strong person stumbled;

Or where the doer of deeds could have done better.

 

The credit belongs to the people who are actually in the arena;

Whose faces are marred by sweat and dust and fatigue;

Who are determined to succeed and to give all they can.

 

The credit belongs to the people who fall

And come up stronger, again and again.

To those who are enthusiastic and devoted to excellence,

And spend themselves in a worthy cause.

 

The credit belongs to the people who -- at best -- when they win

Know the triumph of high achievement;

And who -- at worst -- when they fail

At least they fail while daring greatly.

 

So that their place in history shall never be

With those cold and timid souls

Who know neither victory nor defeat.

 

* * *

The WKC Creed is paraphrased from comments

by Theodore Roosevelt

© 2002, 2015 Skate Free Wheelers/Winning Kids Club