What Does Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick

Speak softly and carry a big stick back up what you say with a show of strength.

Speak softly and carry a big stick. The big stick in the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick refers to the ability to use violence or force if necessary. This term is a quotation from a speech by president theodore roosevelt on september 2 1901 in which he said the country must keep on training a highly efficient navy in order to back up the monroe doctrine. Walk softly and carry a big stick walk softly and carry a big stick attempt peaceful negotiations while also being prepared for confrontation by displaying one s power especially elements of force.

The usual phrasing has carry a big stick and was apparently invented by theodore roosevelt in 1900 in a letter to a friend to describe his policy of talking rationally to the politicians he had to deal with but making them aware that he had powers which he could call upon if necessary. The phrase is a variation on speak softly and carry a big stick a phrase popularized by us president theodore roosevelt in a 1903 speech. You will go far roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis. What does speak softly but carry a big stick actually mean.

The phrase is supposed to encourage people to avoid aggression by using caution but also to have a weapon at the ready. It was often repeated and is by no means obsolete. See big stick diplomacy. Speak softly and carry a big stick roosevelt resorted to big stick diplomacy most conspicuously in 1903 when he helped panama to secede from colombia and gave the united states a canal zone.

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Speak softly and carry a big stick a proverb quoted by theodore roosevelt as a brief statement of his approach to foreign policy. Speak softly and carry a big stick is a proverbial saying advising the tactic of caution and non aggression backed up by the ability to carry out violent action if required. Teddy roosevelt meant walk soft but carry a big stick he was saying don t be pushy nor a bully. Speak softly and carry a big stick.

What s the origin of the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick. You will go f ar roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis. Construction began at once on the panama canal which roosevelt visited in 1906 the first president to leave.