Our 26^th president, Theodore Roosevelt, said many years ago; “SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK, YOU WILL GO FAR.” Such a beautiful meaningful statement. It could be interpreted to mean, one that is competent in their profession need not talk aloud about their accomplishments. The success is the big stick. There is no need to boast about the success. 

If one is very successful in any kind of interaction with others, here again we can “SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK, YOU WILL GO FAR.” Whatever the interaction, conversation, a sport, assistance in anything that ends up successful; SPEAKING SOFTLY is adequate. Again the achievement is the BIG STICK.

Many years ago I learned a different interpretation to Roosevelt’s statement. I was eating in a restaurant that I ate in for several years. I knew the owner from my being there so often.  After some time of my being there I found out that he was “CONNECTED.” One evening a man came in with a woman and two men. The two men sat at a different table. Several that came in went to the man and “kissed”  his ring, even the owner, my friend. After a while two guys and two girls, not connected, sat at a table next to me. After a short time they were talking loud and saying horrible anti- religious, anti-racial statements. I started to get up, the man with the bodyguards motioned for me to sit. He sent one of the bodyguards over, who leaned over with his gun showing and said something quietly to one man. They immediately left. Later I said to my friend; “that man spoke so quietly, why?” My friend said; “YOU CAN SPEAK SOFTLY WHEN YOU CARRY A BIG GUN.”

PLEASE TAKE CARE, STAY WELL, STAY HEALTHY. HAVE FAITH. THANK YOU.

Categories: PERSPECTIVES

ron winnegrad

Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.