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American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt
American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.
The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.
If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.
Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.
Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.
/ˈaʊər ˈkʌntri kɔːlz nɑːt fɔːr ðə laɪf ʌv iːz bʌt fɔːr ðə laɪf ʌv ˈstrenjuːəs ɪnˈdevər/
Line 2
The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.
/ðə ˈtwentiəθ ˈsentʃəri luːmz bɪˈfɔːr ʌs bɪɡ wɪð ðə feɪt ʌv ˈmeni ˈneɪʃənz/
Line 3
If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.
Line 4
Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.
/let ʌs ˈðerfɔːr ˈboʊldli feɪs ðə laɪf ʌv straɪf ˈrezəluːt tuː duː ˈaʊər ˈduːti wel ənd ˈmænfəli ˈrezəluːt tuː əpˈhoʊld ˈraɪtʃəsnəs baɪ diːd ənd baɪ wɜːrd ˈrezəluːt tuː biː boʊθ ˈɑːnəst ənd breɪv tuː sɜːrv haɪ aɪˈdiːlz jet tuː juːs ˈpræktəkəl ˈmeθədz/
Line 5
Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."
/əˈbʌv ɔːl let ʌs nɑːt ʃrɪŋk frʌm straɪf ˈmɔːrəl ɔːr ˈfɪzɪkəl wɪˈðɪn ɔːr wɪˈθaʊt ðə ˈneɪʃən prəˈvaɪdɪd ðæt wiː ɑːr ˈsɜːrtən ðæt ðə straɪf ɪz ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd fɔːr ɪt ɪz ˈoʊnli θruː straɪf θruː hɑːrd ənd ˈdeɪndʒərəs ɪnˈdevər ðæt wiː ʃæl ˈʌltəmətli wɪn ðə ɡoʊl ʌv truː ˈnæʃənəl ˈɡreɪtnəs/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

bolder adjective US /ˈboʊldər/

comparative of “bold” — fearless and daring

From this reading “If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.”

contests noun US /ˈkɑːntests/

plural of “contest” — an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants

From this reading “If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.”

domination noun US /ˌdɑːməˈneɪʃən/

social control by dominating

From this reading “If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.”

ignoble adjective US /ˌɪɡˈnoʊbəl/

completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose

From this reading “If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.”

looms noun US /luːmz/

plural of “loom” — a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile

From this reading “The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.”

manfully adverb US /ˈmænfəli/

in a manful manner; with qualities thought to befit a man

From this reading “Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.”

righteousness noun US /ˈraɪtʃəsnəs/

adhering to moral principles

From this reading “Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.”

uphold verb US /əpˈhoʊld/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading “Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.”

All words in this reading · 109

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

bolderadjectiveUS /ˈboʊldər/

comparative of “bold” — fearless and daring

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

boldlyadverbUS /ˈboʊldli/

with boldness, in a bold manner

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

braveadjectiveUS /breɪv/

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

callsnounUS /kɔːlz/

plural of “call” — a telephone connection

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/

a period of 100 years

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

contestsnounUS /ˈkɑːntests/

plural of “contest” — an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

deednounUS /diːd/

a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

dominationnounUS /ˌdɑːməˈneɪʃən/

social control by dominating

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

easeverbUS /iːz/

move gently or carefully

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

endeavornounUS /ɪnˈdevər/

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

fatenounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

goalnounUS /ɡoʊl/

the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/

the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

hazardnounUS /ˈhæzərd/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

holdverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

idealsnounUS /aɪˈdiːlz/

plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/

in an idle manner

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

ignobleadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnoʊbəl/

completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/

having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

loomsnounUS /luːmz/

plural of “loom” — a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

manfullyadverbUS /ˈmænfəli/

in a manful manner; with qualities thought to befit a man

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/

plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

nationnounUS /ˈneɪʃən/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

nationaladjectiveUS /ˈnæʃənəl/

of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

nationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

peoplesnounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/

the human beings of a particular nation or community or ethnic group

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

physicaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪzɪkəl/

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

practicaladjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəl/

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

providedverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪd/

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

resoluteadjectiveUS /ˈrezəluːt/

firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

righteousnessnounUS /ˈraɪtʃəsnəs/

adhering to moral principles

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

risknounUS /rɪsk/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

seekverbUS /siːk/

try to get or reach

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

serveverbUS /sɜːrv/

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/

wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

slothfuladjective

disinclined to work or exertion

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

strenuousadjectiveUS /ˈstrenjuːəs/

characterized by or performed with much energy or force

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

strifenounUS /straɪf/

lack of agreement or harmony

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

strongeradjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋər/

comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of strenuous endeavor.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

twentiethnounUS /ˈtwentiəθ/

position 20 in a countable series of things

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

ultimatelyadverbUS /ˈʌltəmətli/

as the end result of a succession or process

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

upholdverbUS /əpˈhoʊld/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

winverbUS /wɪn/

be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The twentieth century looms before us big with the fate of many nations.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness."

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will win for themselves the domination of the world.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods.

Chapter 1 of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Edward Stratemeyer holds 151 sentences, grouped into 31 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt contain?

Chapter 1 holds 151 sentences of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Edward Stratemeyer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 151 sentences, grouped into 31 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt

Common questions about reading American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Edward Stratemeyer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt?

Yes. All 2693 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22352 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #22352, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt take to read?

About 224 minutes of reading across 539 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt section by section

How to work through American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt

Words and structures a reader meets early in American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Country
A word that appears in the opening chapter of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Calls
A word that appears in the opening chapter of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Strenuous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Endeavor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.