Jimmy Carter: Trending quotes (page 8)

“Today we are asking our political system to do things of which the founding fathers never dreamed. The government they designed for a few hundred thousand people now serves a nation of almost 230 million people. Their small coastal republic now spans beyond a continent, and we now have the responsibility to help lead much of the world through difficult times to a secure and prosperous future.
Today, as people have become ever more doubtful of the ability of the government to deal with our problems, we are increasingly drawn to single-issue groups and special interest organizations to ensure that whatever else happens our own personal views and our own private interests are protected.
This is a disturbing factor in American political life. It tends to distort our purposes because the national interest is not always the sum of all our single or special interests. We are all Americans together — and we must not forget that the common good is our common interest and our individual responsibility.”

Jimmy Carter

Presidency (1977–1981), Farewell Address (1981)

Life , People , World , Dreams

“I have experienced the intensity of patriotism as a submarine officer, the ambitions of a competitive businessman, and the intensity of political debate. I have been sorely tempted to launch a military attack on foreigners, and have felt the frustration of having to negotiate with allies or even former enemies to reach a consensus instead of taking more decisive unilateral action.”

Jimmy Carter

Page 5
Post-Presidency, Our Endangered Values (2005)

Decision

“I am now more convinced than ever that the United States — better than any other nation — can meet successfully whatever the future might bring.
These last four years have made me more certain than ever of the inner strength of our country — the unchanging value of our principles and ideals, the stability of our political system, the ingenuity and the decency of our people.”

Jimmy Carter

Presidency (1977–1981), Farewell Address (1981)

People , Future , Country

“For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.
In this outward and physical ceremony we attest once again to the inner and spiritual strength of our Nation.”

Jimmy Carter

Presidency (1977–1981), Inaugural Address (1977)

“Within our country, ultimate decisions are made through democratic means, which tend to moderate radical or ill-advised proposals. Constrained and inspired by historic constitutional principles, our nation has endeavored for more than two hundred years to follow the now almost universal ideals of freedom, human rights, and justice for all.”

Jimmy Carter

Post-Presidency, Nobel lecture (2002)
Context: The world has changed greatly since I left the White House. Now there is only one superpower, with unprecedented military and economic strength. The coming budget for American armaments will be greater than those of the next fifteen nations combined, and there are troops from the United States in many countries throughout the world. Our gross national economy exceeds that of the three countries that follow us, and our nation's voice most often prevails as decisions are made concerning trade, humanitarian assistance, and the allocation of global wealth. This dominant status is unlikely to change in our lifetimes.
Great American power and responsibility are not unprecedented, and have been used with restraint and great benefit in the past. We have not assumed that super strength guarantees super wisdom, and we have consistently reached out to the international community to ensure that our own power and influence are tempered by the best common judgment.
Within our country, ultimate decisions are made through democratic means, which tend to moderate radical or ill-advised proposals. Constrained and inspired by historic constitutional principles, our nation has endeavored for more than two hundred years to follow the now almost universal ideals of freedom, human rights, and justice for all.

Justice , Decision , Freedom , Universe

“There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”

Jimmy Carter

Speech at a town hall meeting held at his presidential center in Atlanta, Georgia. [Jimmy Carter says Joe Wilson's attack on Barack Obama was 'based on racism', The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph, September 16, 2009, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/6196028/Jimmy-Carter-says-Joe-Wilsons-attack-on-Barack-Obama-was-based-on-racism.html]
Post-Presidency

Feeling , Country

“The authenticity and universal applicability of these guarantees were never questioned by a democratic power — until recently, and by America! Instead of honoring the historic restraints, our political leaders decided to violate them, using the excuse that we are at war against terrorism. It is obvious that the Geneva Conventions were designed specifically to protect prisoners of war, not prisoners of peace.”

Jimmy Carter

Pages 126-127
Post-Presidency, Our Endangered Values (2005)

War , Peace , Question , Universe

“This war has been motivated by pride or arrogance, by a desire to control oil wealth, by a desire to implant our programs.”

Jimmy Carter

on the Diane Rehm Show.
Post-Presidency

War , Motivation , Wealth

“Formerly admired almost universally as the preeminent champion of human rights, the United States now has become one of the foremost targets of respected international organizations concerned about these basic principles of democratic life. Some of our actions are similar to those of abusive regimes that we have historically condemned.”

Jimmy Carter

Pages 117-118
Post-Presidency, Our Endangered Values (2005)

Universe , Life

“Sometimes we try to justify this unsavory business on the cynical ground that by rationing out the means of violence we can somehow control the world’s violence. The fact is that we cannot have it both ways. Can we be both the world’s leading champion of peace and the world’s leading supplier of the weapons of war?”

Jimmy Carter

"A Community of the Free" address at the The Foreign Policy Association NY, NY (23 June 1976); this is often paraphrased: We cannot be both the world’s leading champion of peace and the world’s leading supplier of the weapons of war.
Pre-Presidency

Peace , Business , War , Way

“Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood.”

Jimmy Carter

Remarks at a White House meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (6 December 1978), Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Jimmy Carter, 1978 Book 1: January 1 to June 30, 1978, p. 2164
Presidency (1977–1981), 1978

Sense , Soul

“I've looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it."”

Jimmy Carter

Interview in Playboy magazine (1976), while a candidate for President.
Pre-Presidency

Forgiveness , God , Time , Heart

“My name is Jimmy Carter, and I’m running for President.
It’s been a long time since I said those words the first time, and now I’ve come here after seeing our great country to accept your nomination.”

Jimmy Carter

Pre-Presidency, First Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech (1976)

Time , Country