A boy should develop his mind by "work[ing] hard, at his lessons, first for what he will learn, and second, for the discipline that comes from resolutely settling down to learn it. Boys, when they study should study just as hard as they play football in an important game...

"A boy should develop both physical and moral courage. He should not be a coward, who will take a blow without returning it, and he should always stand up for what he thinks is right, even when his friends sneer at him. He should be ashamed to submit to bullying without instant retaliation, and should, in return, abhor any form of bullying, cruelty or brutality.

"[A] boy can best become a good man by being a good boy -- not a goody-goody boy, but just a plain good boy. 'Good.' in the largest sense, should include whatever is fine, straightforward, clean, brave and manly. The best boys I know are good at their studies fearless and stalwart, hated and feared by all that is wicked and depraved, incapable of submitting to wrong-doing, and equally incapable of being aught but tender to the weak and helpless."

"In short," Roosevelt advises, "in life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard!"
Theodore Roosevelt