Speak softly and carry a big stick was the west african proverb that president theodore roosevelt was fond of.
Theodore Roosevelt popularized and gave the phrase "Big Stick" to a policy that proclaimed American dominance at a time when doing so was seen as morally necessary.
When he argued in front of the US Congress for increased naval readiness to support the country's diplomatic goals, Roosevelt used the phrase for the first time in a notable public context.
Earlier, when he was still the governor of New York, Roosevelt mentioned in a letter to a friend how much he liked the West African saying, "Speak quietly and carry a strong stick; you will go far."
Later on, Roosevelt used the phrase to describe his interactions with domestic political figures as well as his stance on topics like monopoly regulation and labor union demands.
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