Meaning of “The courage of the soldiers depends upon the…”

Participation matters more than detached fault-finding when achievement requires risk, effort, mistakes, and responsibility for an outcome.

Roosevelt distinguishes honorable failure in serious effort from the safety of never attempting anything demanding.

Danger may require either open bravery or careful strategy; the saying treats courage and judgment as complementary ways of meeting opposition.

Life requires readiness for unexpected pressure, closer to maintaining balance in a contest than performing a fully choreographed sequence.

Courage can look like continuing useful work after enthusiasm fades, especially when results are delayed rather than immediately visible.

Crisis reveals commitment because principles become costly to maintain precisely when fear, fatigue, and uncertainty make retreat easier.