Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsOn November 2, 2022, Michael Dell posted that he respected Elon Musk “for being the man in the arena.” Musk replied, “Thanks Michael.” Dell’s post paired that praise with an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 speech “Citizenship in a Republic.”
What Michael Dell said about Elon Musk
Dell wrote: “Win or lose, respect to @elonmusk for being the man in the arena.” His post included an image quoting Roosevelt’s speech. Musk responded: “Thanks Michael.” CRN reported the exchange the following day: CRN’s November 3, 2022 report.
What “the man in the arena” means
The phrase is the popular name for a passage in “Citizenship in a Republic,” an address Theodore Roosevelt delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910. The Theodore Roosevelt Center’s transcription gives the passage in its fuller form:
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, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
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Roosevelt’s point was broader than praise for one individual: he contrasted taking part, striving, and accepting the possibility of failure with standing aside to criticize. The longer address also placed individual effort within a civic argument about citizenship, responsibility, and service. Dell used the memorable passage to express his own respect for Musk; Roosevelt’s speech was not an endorsement of Musk.
Why Dell’s wording matters
“Win or lose” makes Dell’s message about the act of entering the arena, rather than only about the eventual result. That is consistent with the excerpt’s emphasis on striving despite errors and possible failure. It is Dell’s interpretation of the passage as applied to Musk, not a claim that Roosevelt had Musk in mind.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the two men’s connection
CRN reported that Dell and Musk had known each other for years and cited Musk’s 2013 Dell World keynote as background. That connection is reported context; the exchange itself is the central documented event.
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Timeline
- April 23, 1910: Roosevelt delivered “Citizenship in a Republic” at the Sorbonne in Paris.
- November 2, 2022: Dell posted his message and Musk replied, according to CRN.
- November 3, 2022: CRN published its account of the exchange.
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