Dictionary

speak softly and carry a big stick en · X

Etymology

Popularized by and often attributed to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) as an expression of his view of foreign policy, possibly of earlier, West African origin according to his account, but with a probability of he himself having coined it. The full version is “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

Meanings

1. Do not boast or utter verbal threats, but do make others aware that you are prepared to use physical or military force if necessary.
   • There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." 1903 April 3, Theodore Roosevelt, President Roosevelt's Speech on the Monroe Doctrine," Arizona Journal-Miner, p. 4 (retrieved 19 Dec 2011)
   • When it comes to China, we have gone from "Speak softly and carry a big stick" to "Take the fifth and carry a toothpick". (from a Congressional speech by Rep. James Traficant, June 22, 1998) 1999 January 17, Tom Kuntz, “Word for Word/Representative James A. Traficant Jr.”, in New York Times, retrieved 19 Dec 2011:
   • Under any governmental auspices, as the modern world knows governments, the keeping of the peace comes at its best under the precept, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." 1917, Thorstein Veblen, The Nature of Peace, Introductory:

Forms

Relateds

you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone · big stick

Translations (5)

cmn 大棒在手 (do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force) · la post verba verbera (do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force) · grc ὃν οὐ τύπτει λόγος, τύπτει ῥάβδος (do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force) · cmn 溫言在口，大棒在手 /温言在口 (do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force) · el όπου δεν τύπτει λόγος τύπτει ράβδος (do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force)

wikipedia: Theodore Roosevelt