Ronald Reagan: Trending quotes (page 6)

“Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.”

Ronald Reagan

Interview, Los Angeles Times (7 January 1970)
1970s

“Until now has there ever been a time in which so many of the prophecies are coming together? There have been times in the past when people thought the end of the world was coming, and so forth, but never anything like this.”

Ronald Reagan

1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)
Source: Ronald Reagan (6 December 1983), cited by Paul Slansky, The Clothes Have No Emperor

People , World , Time , Past

“We have found, in our country, that when people have the right to make decisions as close to home as possible, they usually make the right decisions.”

Ronald Reagan

Address to the International Committee for the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. (17 September 1990)
Post-presidency (1989–2004)

People , Home , Decision , Country

“I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.”

Ronald Reagan

Debate with Walter Mondale http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/102184b.htm (21 October 1984)
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

Youth , Age

“America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts. It rests in the message of hope in songs of a man so many young Americans admire -- New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen.”

Ronald Reagan

Speech in Hammonton, N.J. http://www.myhammonton.com/reaganhammonton.php (19 September 1984)
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

Dreams , Hope , Future , Heart

“[Evolution] has in recent years been challenged in the world of science and is not yet believed in the scientific community to be as infallible as it once was believed. But if it was going to be taught in the schools, then I think that also the biblical theory of creation, which is not a theory but the biblical story of creation, should also be taught.”

Ronald Reagan

Press conference at evangelical event in Dallas, Texas. (22 August 1980)
1980s

World , School , Communication , Thinking

“I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”

Ronald Reagan

Joke at the Gridiron Club annual dinner (24 March 1984)
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

“They tell us we must learn to live with less, and teach our children that their lives will be less full and prosperous than ours have been; that the America of the coming years will be a place where — because of our past excesses — it will be impossible to dream and make those dreams come true. I don't believe that. And, I don't believe you do either. That is why I am seeking the presidency. I cannot and will not stand by and see this great country destroy itself. Our leaders attempt to blame their failures on circumstances beyond their control, on false estimates by unknown, unidentifiable experts who rewrite modern history in an attempt to convince us our high standard of living, the result of thrift and hard work, is somehow selfish extravagance which we must renounce as we join in sharing scarcity. I don't agree that our nation must resign itself to inevitable decline, yielding its proud position to other hands. I am totally unwilling to see this country fail in its obligation to itself and to the other free peoples of the world.”

Ronald Reagan

Official Announcement http://www.reaganlibrary.com/reagan/speeches/intent.asp of being a candidate for U.S. President (13 November 1979)
1970s

Children , People , World , Dreams

“If it's to be a bloodbath, let it be now. Appeasement is not the answer.”

Ronald Reagan

On what to do about student disruptions at UC Berkeley, quoted in the Los Angeles Times (8 April 1970); shortly thereafter, Reagan said: "I certainly don't think there should be a bloodbath on campus or anywhere else. It was just a figure of speech." as quoted by United Press International (8 April 1970)
1970s

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

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the National Alliance of Business (5 October 1981) http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/100581a.htm
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

“I never knew anything above Cs.”

Ronald Reagan

Describing his academic record to Barbara Walters (27 November 1981), cited by Paul Slansky, The Clothes Have No Emperor
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

“Well, I learned a lot. … You'd be surprised. They're all individual countries.”

Ronald Reagan

Quoted by Lou Cannon in his article Latin [American] Trip an Eye-Opener for Reagan in The Washington Post (6 December 1982)
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

Learning , Country

“There is no logical way that you can say let's spend X billion dollars less. You can only say, which part of our defense measures do we believe we can do without and still have security against all contingencies? Anyone in the Congress who advocates a percentage or specific dollar cut in defense spending should be made to say what part of our defenses he would eliminate, and he should be candid enough to acknowledge that his cuts mean cutting our commitments to allies or inviting greater risk or both.”

Ronald Reagan

1980s, First term of office (1981–1985), Address on the Strategic Defense Initiative (1983)

Way , Parting

“Small business is the gateway to opportunity for those who want a piece of the American dream. […] Well, wouldn't it be nice to hear a little more about the forgotten heroes of America-those who create most of our new jobs, like the owners of stores down the street; the faithfuls who support our churches, synagogues, schools, and communities; the brave men and women everywhere who produce our goods, feed a hungry world, and keep our families warm while they invest in the future to build a better America? That's where miracles are made, not in Washington, D. C.”

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan: "Remarks at the National Conference of the National Federation of Independent Business ," June 22, 1983. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=41504
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

Women , Men , World , School

“Today we have done what we had to do. If necessary, we shall do it again. It gives me no pleasure to say that, and I wish it were otherwise… When our citizens are abused or attacked anywhere in the world on the direct orders of a hostile regime, we will respond so long as I'm in this Oval Office. Self-defense is not only our right; it is our duty. … Despite our repeated warnings, Qadhafi continued his reckless policy of intimidation, his relentless pursuit of terror. He counted on America to be passive. He counted wrong.”

Ronald Reagan

Address to the Nation on the United States Air Strike Against Libya http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/41486g.htm (14 April 1986)
1980s, Second term of office (1985–1989)

Hostility , Pleasure , World

“You know, I received an invitation that said "Please come to Ellis Island July 4th for the hundredth birthday celebration of an American institution". Somebody goofed. My birthday is not until February.”

Ronald Reagan

A self-deprecating joke about his age, quoted at American Experience http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/transcript/reagan-transcript/
1980s, Second term of office (1985–1989)

Birthday

“Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation. So let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards for man-made sources.”

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, Sierra (10 September 1980)
1980s

“I have only one thing to say to the tax increasers: Go ahead, make my day.”

Ronald Reagan

Speech threatening to veto legislation raising taxes http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1985/31385b.htm (13 March 1985)
1980s, Second term of office (1985–1989)

“My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

Ronald Reagan

Joking during a microphone check. The joke was later leaked to the general populace and, upon learning of it, Soviet defenses went on high alert. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan%27s_%22We_begin_bombing_in_five_minutes%22_joke http://www.npr.org/news/specials/obits/reagan/audio_archive.html (11 August 1984)
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

“Every country and every people has a stake in the Afghan resistance, for the freedom fighters of Afghanistan are defending principles of independence and freedom that form the basis of global security and stability.”

Ronald Reagan

Referring to groups who who were resisting Soviet rule of Afghanistan, with U.S. support, in Proclamation 4908 — Afghanistan Day (10 March 1982) http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1982/31082c.htm
1980s, First term of office (1981–1985)

People , Freedom , Country