It's not the critic that counts.

In the sacred arena of Street Sankirtan sadly many devotees have been persecuted, thrown in jail, put in psychiatric asylums and even murdered around the world.

This poem is dedicated to them -

“It's not the critic that counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or whether the doer of the deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and often comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause.

And who, if at best in the end, knows the triumph of higher treatment and high achievements.

And at worst, if fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his soul shall never be with those cold and timid ones who know neither victory nor defeat”

(Taken from Theodore Roosevelt the 26th President Of The United States, from 1901-1912)

In regards to this quote, Srila Prabhupada told us we can take "good instructions" from anyone, from a Brahmana (Priest or teacher), a sudra (Labourer) or even an untouchable or the most fallen, if it is good instructions. (Quoting the 20th Century Indian Caste System)

This is because wise words like Gold, can NEVER be contaminated no matter who says them.

In other words, if Gold is found in a unclean place, or even in stool, it is still pure Gold.

And so are good instructions.

PHOTOS - The first photo is of Hladini devi dasi ACBSP a great devotee of Lord Krishna who was murdered in Africa in 1990 while preaching the Sankirtan Movement of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and trying to protect other devotees from being persecuted.