speak softly and carry a big stick

English

Alternative forms

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.”

Proverb

speak softly and carry a big stick

Political cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt and his big stick

Do not boast or utter verbal threats, but do make others aware that you are prepared to use physical or military force if necessary.
- 1903 April 3, Theodore Roosevelt, President Roosevelt's Speech on the Monroe Doctrine," Arizona Journal-Miner, p. 4 (retrieved 19 Dec 2011):
  There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
- 1917, Thorstein Veblen, The Nature of Peace, Introductory:
  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."
- 1999 January 17, Tom Kuntz, “Word for Word/Representative James A. Traficant Jr.”, in New York Times, retrieved 19 December 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)

Translations

do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force

Chinese:
Mandarin: 溫言在口，大棒在手／温言在口，大棒在手 (wēnyán zài kǒu, dàbàng zài shǒu)
Greek: όπου δεν τύπτει λόγος τύπτει ράβδος (el) (ópou den týptei lógos týptei rávdos)
Ancient Greek: ὃν οὐ τύπτει λόγος, τύπτει ῥάβδος (hòn ou túptei lógos, túptei rhábdos)
Latin: post verba verbera

References

“speak softly and carry a big stick”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.