Ronald Reagan

"This democracy of ours, which sometimes weve treated so lightly, is more than ever a comfortable cloak, so let us not tear it asunder, for no man knows, once it is destroyed, where or when he will find its protective warmth again."

" I am going to talk of controversial things. I make no apology for this..."

"You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a mans age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course."

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our childrens children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done."

"We need true tax reform that will at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American dream that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him."

"Government is like a big baby - an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other."

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again."

"Im just a citizen temporarily in public service."

"When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much."

"Freedom is indivisible - there is no s on the end of it. You can erode freedom, diminish it, but you cannot divide it and choose to keep some freedoms while giving up others."

"In some dim beginning, man created the institution of government as a convenience for himself. And, ever since that time, government has been doing its best to become an inconvenience."

"When you start talking about government as we instead of they, you have been in office too long."

"One thing our Founding Fathers could not foresee . . . was a nation governed by professional politicians who had a vested interest in getting reelected. They probably envisioned a fellow serving a couple of hitches and then looking . . . forward to getting back to the farm."

"Constructive trade, the two-way exchange of goods and services, is the most efficient and logical way for each nation . . . to build a stable prosperity, a prosperity based not on aid, but on mutually beneficial economic contacts."

"The dustbin of history is littered with remains of those countries that relied on diplomacy to secure their freedom. We must never forget . . . in the final analysis . . . that it is our military, industrial and economic strength that offers the best guarantee of peace for America in times of danger."

"When a business or an individual spends more than it makes, it goes bankrupt. When government does it, it sends you the bill. And when government does it for 40 years, the bill comes in two ways: higher taxes and inflation."

"When a business or an individual spends more than it makes, it goes bankrupt. When government does it, it sends you the bill. And when government does it for 40 years, the bill comes in two ways: higher taxes and inflation. Make no mistake about it, inflation is a tax and not by accident."

"The . . . inescapable truth is: government does not have all the answers. In too many instances, government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."

"Individual liberty depends upon keeping government under control."

"Nations crumble from within when the citizenry asks of government those things which the citizenry might better provide for itself."

"Im not a politician by profession. I am a citizen who decided I had to be personally involved in order to stand up for my own values and beliefs. My candidacy is based on my record, and for that matter, my entire life."

"You dont fix bad policies by rearranging or replacing one bureaucrat with another. You have to replace bad ideas with good ones."

"I think the best possible social program is a job."

"Work and family are at the center of our lives, the foundation of our dignity as a free people."

"Together, let us make this a new beginning. Let us make a commitment to care for the needy, to teach our children the values and the virtues handed down to us by our families, to have the courage to defend those values and the willingess to sacrifice for them. Let us pledge to restore, in our time, the American spirit of voluntary service, of cooperation, of private and community initiative, a spirit that flows like a deep and mighty river through the history of our nation."

" There you go again."

" Ask yourself, Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?"

"Let us resolve tonight that young Americans will always . . . find there a city of hope in a country that is free . . . . And let us resolve they will say of our day and our generation, we did keep the faith with our God, that we did act worthy of ourselves, that we did protect and pass on lovingly that shining city on a hill."

"We hear much of special interest groups. Well, our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when were sick -- professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, ?"

"We are a nation that has a government -- not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth. Our government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of government, which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed."

"If we look to the answer as to why for so many years we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on earth, it was because here in this land we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on earth. The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price."

"Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, its not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work - work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it."

"We are a nation that has a government - not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the earth. Our government has no power except that granted to it by the people It is time to check and reverse the growth of government which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed."

". . . government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

"Above all we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."

"As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will not surrender for it - now or ever."

"This Administrations objective will be a healthy, vigorous growing economy."

"All of us should remember that the federal government is not some mysterious institution comprised of buildings, files and paper. The people are the government. What we create we ought to be able to control."

"When Americans reach out for values of faith, family, and caring for the needy, theyre saying, ``We want the word of God. We want to face the future with the Bible. . . . . Were blessed to have its words of strength, comfort, and truth. Im accused of being simplistic at times with some of the problems that confront us. But Ive often wondered: Within the covers of that single Book are all the answers to all the problems that face us today, if wed only look there. ``The grass withereth, the flower"

"Throughout our history Americans have put their faith in God and no one can doubt that we have been blessed for it. The earliest settlers of this land came came in search of religious freedom. Landing on a desolate shoreline, they established a spiritual foundation that has served us ever since."

"Honey, I forgot to duck."

"Ive been told that some members of Congress disagree with my tax cut proposal. Well, you know its been said that taxation is the art of plucking feathers without killing the bird. Its time they realized the bird just doesnt have any feathers left."

"The size of the Federal budget is not an appropriate barometer of social conscience or charitable concern."

"Status quo, you know, that is Latin for the mess were in."

"It was the hard work of our people, the freedom they enjoyed and their faith in God that built this country and made it the envy of the world. In all of our great cities and towns evidence of the faith of our people is found: houses of worship of every denomination are among the oldest structures. While never willing to bow to a tyrant, our forefathers were always willing to get to their knees before God. When catastrophe threatened, they turned to God for deliverance. When the harvest was bount"

"Our National Motto - In God We Trust - was not chosen lightly. It reflects a basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this nation owes homage."

"I hope youre all Republicans."

"The years ahead will be great ones for our country, for the cause of freedom and the spread of civilization. The West will not contain communism, it will transcend communism. We will not bother to denounce it. Well dismiss it as a sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written."

"A truly successful army is one that, because of its strength and ability and dedication, will not be called upon to fight, for no one will dare to provoke it."

"A truly successful army is one that, because of its strength and ability and dedication, will not be called upon to fight, for no one will dare to provoke it."

"There is no institution more vital to our Nations survival than the American family. Here the seeds of personal character are planted, the roots of public virtue first nourished. Through love and instruction, discipline, guidance and example, we learn from our mothers and fathers the values that will shape our private lives and our public citizenship."

"Weve been trying to follow the advice of Mark Twain, which was Do whats right and youll please some of the people and astound the rest."

"Government does not tax to get the money it needs; government always finds a need for the money it gets."

"Let me make our goal . . . very clear: jobs, jobs, jobs, and more jobs . . . . Our policy has been and will continue to be: What is good for the American workers is good for America."

"Only our deep moral values and our strong social institutions can hold back that jungle and restrain the darker impulses of human nature."

"I have been one who believes that abortion is the taking of a human life . . . . The fact that they could not resolve the issue of when life begins was a finding in and of itself. If we dont know, then shouldnt we morally opt on the side that it is life? If you came upon an immobile body and you yourself could not determine whether it was dead or alive, I think that you would decide to consider it alive until somebody could prove it was dead. You wouldnt get a shovel and start covering it up. An"

" President Washington began this tradition in 1790 after reminding the Nation that the destiny of self-government and the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty is finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people. For our friends in the press, who place a high premium on accuracy, let me say: I did not actually hear George Washington say that."

"The government is currently experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and we musnt feed the habit by injecting more tax dollars into it."

"We have Gods promise that what we give will be given back many times over, so let us go forth from here and rekindle the fire of our faith. Let our wisdom be vindicated by our deeds. We are told in II Timothy that when our work is done, we can say, ``We have fought the good fight. We have finished the race. We have kept the faith. This is an evidence of it."

"God, the source of our knowledge, has been expelled from the classroom. He gives us His greatest blessing, life, and yet many would condone the taking of innocent life. We expect Him to protect us in a crisis, but turn away from Him too often in our day-to-day living. I wonder if He isnt waiting for us to wake up."

"I also believe this blessed land was set apart in a very special way, a country created by men and women who came here not in search of gold, but in search of God. They would be free people, living under the law with faith in their Maker and their future. Sometimes, it seems weve strayed from that noble beginning, from our conviction that standards of right and wrong do exist and must be lived up to."

"Ive always believed that we were, each of us, put here for a reason, that there is a plan, somehow a divine plan for all of us. I know now that whatever days are left to me belong to him."

"Its been written that the most sublime figure in American history was George Washington on his knees in the snow at Valley Forge. He personified a people who knew that it was not enough to depend on their own courage and goodness, that they must also seek help from God -- their Father and preserver. Where did we begin to lose sight of that noble beginning, of our conviction that standards of right and wrong do exist and must be lived up to? Do we really think that we can have it both ways, that "

"The Book of St. John tells us that ``For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. We have Gods promise that what we give will be given back many times over. And we also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country -- ``That if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will f"

"Its hard, when youre up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp."

"And there is the matter of abortion. We must with calmness and resolve help the vast majority of our fellow Americans understand that the more than 112 million abortions performed in America in 1980 amount to a great moral evil, an assault on the sacredness of human life."

"Fellow Americans, our duty is before us tonight. Let us go forward, determined to serve selflessly a vision of man with God, government for people, and humanity at peace. For it is now our task to tend and preserve, through the darkest and coldest nights, that sacred fire of liberty that President Washington spoke of two centuries ago, a fire that tonight remains a beacon to all oppressed of the world, shining forth from this kindly, pleasant, greening land we call America."

"The struggle goes on. To be alive and to be human is to struggle for what is right and against what is not."

"Wouldnt it be better for the human spirit and for the soul of this Nation to encourage people to accept more responsibility to care for one another, rather than leaving those tasks to paid bureaucrats?"

"In the words of Thomas Paine: These are times that try mens souls. We need more than summer soldiers and sunshine patriots. If we believe in principles of free enterprise that made our country great, we must stand up for them again today. We must draw anew on the individual strength, ingenuity, and vision that built America. But our gaze is not set on the past; its firmly fixed on tomorrow. We must not mortgage our childrens future to pay for the mistakes of today. The choice before our generati"

"Our leaders must remember that education doesnt begin with some isolated bureaucrat in Washington. It doesnt even begin with state or local officials. Education begins in the home, where it is a parental right and responsibility."

"Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used. For the ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas - a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated."

"It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history . . . . [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history, as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people."

"From here I will go to Bonn and then to Berlin, where there stands a grim symbol of power untamed. The Berlin Wall, that dreadful gray gash across the city, is in its third decade. It is the fitting signature of the regime that built it."

"In an ironic sense, Karl Marx was right. We are witnessing today a great revolutionary crisis, a crisis where the demands of the economic order are conflicting directly with those of the political order. But the crisis is happening not in the . . . West, but in the home of Marxism-Leninism, the Soviet Union. It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history by denying human freedom and human dignity to its citizens."

"Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used."

"Our loyalty lies with little taxpayers, not big spenders. What our critics really believe is that those in Washington know better how to spend your money than you, the people, do. But were not going to let them do it, period."

"I know now what Im about to say will be very controversial, but I also believe that Gods greatest gift is human life and that we have a sacred duty to protect the innocent human life of an unborn child. Now I realize that this view is not shared by all. But out of all the debate on this subject has come one undisputed fact, and this, out of the debate, has been the uncertainty of when life begins. And I just happen to believe that simple morality dictates that unless and until someone can prove "

"Its said that prayer can move mountains. Well, its certainly moved the hearts and minds of Americans in their times of trial and helped them to achieve a society that, for all its imperfections, is still the envy of the world and the last, best hope of mankind."

"We desire peace. But peace is a goal, not a policy. Lasting peace is what we hope for at the end of our journey. It doesnt describe the steps we must take nor the paths we should follow to reach that goal."

"Our status as a free society and world power is not based on brute strength. When weve taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourselves and for other peaceful nations who needed our help. But now, faced with the development of weapons with immense destructive power, weve no choice but to maintain ready defense forces that are second to none. Yes, the cost is high, but the price of neglect would be infinitely higher."

"This country was founded and built by people with great dreams and the courage to take great risks."

"When our Founding Fathers passed the First Amendment, they sought to protect churches from government interference. They never intended to construct a wall of hostility between government and the concept of religious belief itself."

"A number of years ago, I heard a young father, a very prominent young man in the entertainment world, addressing a tremendous gathering in California. It was during the time of the cold war, and communism and our own way of life were very much on peoples minds. And he was speaking to that subject. And suddenly, though, I heard him saying, ``I love my little girls more than anything -- -- And I said to myself, ``Oh, no, dont. You cant -- dont say that. But I had underestimated him. He went on: `"

"Yes, the deficit doctors have their scalpels out all right, but they?re not poised over the budget. That?s as fat as ever and getting fatter. What they?re ready to operate on is your wallet."

"The most fundamental paradox is that, if were never to use force, we must be prepared to use it and to use it successfully. We Americans dont want war, and we dont start fights. We dont maintain a strong military force to conquer or coerce others. The purpose of our military is simple and straightforward: We want to prevent war by deterring others from the aggression that causes war. If our efforts are successful, we will have peace and never be forced into battle. There will never be a need to "

"I have one question for those rulers: If communism is the wave of the future, why do you still need walls to keep people in and armies of secret police to keep them quiet?"

"The Founding Fathers believed that faith in God was the key to our being a good people and Americas becoming a great nation."

"Either you will control your government, or government will control you."

"An America that is militarily and economically strong is not enough. The world must see an America that is morally strong with a creed and a vision. This is what has led us to dare and achieve. For us, values count."

"History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap."

"History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap."

"The best view of big government is in the rearview mirror as we leave it behind."

"Yes, deficits are a problem. Ive been saying so for more than a quarter of a century now. But the problem is not the size of the deficit, its the size of governments claim on our economy."

"Law and freedom must be indivisible partners. For without law, there can be no freedom, only choas and disorder; and without freedom, law is but a cynical veneer for injustice and oppression."

"We believe in the dignity of each man, woman and child. Our entire system is founded on an appreciation of the special genius of each individual, and of his special right to make his own decisions and lead his own life. We believe - and we believe it so deeply that Americans know these words by heart - we believe, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among those are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

"We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free."

" Could I share a personal thought with you tonight, because tonight's kind of special to me. It's the last time, of course, that I will address you under these same circumstances. I hope you'll invite me back to future conventions. Nancy and I will be forever grateful for the honor you've done us, for the opportunity to serve, and for your friendship and trust"

"Politics and morality are inseparable. And as moralitys foundation is religion, religion and politics are necessarily related. We need religion as a guide. We need it because we are imperfect, and our government needs the church, because only those humble enough to admit theyre sinners can bring to democracy the tolerance it requires in order to survive."