Theodore roosevelt biography book pdf

Today’s post is about a motivational quote that is often falsely attributed to Theodore Roosevelt. It is very popular across the internet and in quote books.

✘ “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Theodore Roosevelt

✘ “Do what you can where you are, with what you have.”
Theodore Roosevelt

✘ “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”
Theodore Roosevelt

The Correct Quote

✓ “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”
Squire Bill Widener of Widener’s Valley, Virginia
Theodore Roosevelt:  An Autobiography
chapter IX

Here is the quote found in chapter IX of Theodore Roosevelt:  An Autobiography (first published in 1913).

Note that Roosevelt clearly attributes the quote to Squire Bill Widener.

Here is the book title page: