Quotation record · reviewed 2026-08-09
Circulates under Theodore Roosevelt
Editorial status
Roosevelt's maxim says ‘speak softly’, not ‘walk softly’. The altered verb is common in motivational copy but should not be presented as the original quotation.
Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.
Earliest traceable appearance in this record: 1901 speech by Theodore Roosevelt; exact publication and wording vary by transcript.
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