The manliness of Theodore Roosevelt


Instapundit flags this essay in the New Criterion by Harvey Mansfield. He hits the one money quote (which is too good not to repeat.)

The theorists today who say masculinity is a social construction often give the impression that there’s nothing to it; society waves a wand and a nerd is made manly. No, it takes effort to become manly, as Teddy Roosevelt says. The more manliness is constructed, the more effort it takes. The more we admire effort like TR’s rather than the beautiful nature and noble ease of Homer’s Achilles, the more we admire will-power manliness and the more we depend on it.

But this is pretty good as well.

Even virtue might be too undemanding for him, for the virtuous person finds virtue to be pleasantly harmonious with his inclination, does not worry about his will-power, and does not struggle to be good. Roosevelt does speak of manly virtues, but these are habits of the zestful performance of duty. Duty gives shape to will-power, directing and checking it; and society—not the loner—defines duty.

This is not quoted in the article, but it is one of my favorite TR observations and it is sure to warm Kim du Toit's heart.

To my mind there is no comparison between sport with the rifle and sport with the shotgun. The rifle is the freeman's weapon.

Mansfield discusses TR and William James. Last year wrote about politics, TR, and the other James brother

Maybe the Frontier Did Matter