ABSTRACT
After a year’s journey in East Africa, from 1909–1910, Theodore Roosevelt joined his wife, Edith, for an extended trip to Europe. During their travels, the Roosevelt’s stopped in Paris, where on April 23, 1910, Mr. Roosevelt delivered an invited speech at the Sorbonne. The speech was entitled “Citizenship in a Republic.” But because the speech lauded citizens who struggle for worthy causes within the public arena the speech has become known as “The Man in the Arena.” The average citizen must be a good citizen if our republics are to succeed. The stream will not permanently rise higher than the main source; and the main source of national power and national greatness is found in the average citizenship of the nation. Character must show itself in the man’s performance both of the duty he owes himself and of the duty he owes the state.
