650 Inspiring Quotes by George W. Bush

I'm the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.

The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We've removed an ally of al Qaeda.

This is a nation that loves our freedom, loves our country.

The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country. With a simple oath, we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings.

In the long run, stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty.

As individuals, we know that suffering is temporary, and hope is eternal.

Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?

I'm also combining my love of outdoors with my desire to help others.

We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your oppressors. We are coming to bring you food and medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will not stop, we will not relent until your country is free.

Russia's most precious resource is the brain power of this country. And you've got a lot of it. It's going to take a lot of brains in Russia to create a drain.

Hopefully I'm not a grumpy old guy sitting in the corner, yelling at people and demanding things.

George H. W. Bush is gracious. And I'm not saying any of the former presidents aren't gracious, I'm just saying, this man is gracious.

Please don't kill me!

I simply said that I would do everything to help Taiwan to defend itself.

One of my hardest parts of my job is to console the family members who have lost their life.

Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers to keep the peace from peacekeepers is going to be an assignment.

I am mindful not only of preserving executive powers for myself, but for predecessors as well.

Uhh Gosh, I.. don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those, uhh, exaggerations.

I am comfortable knowing that I put my heart and soul into the presidency.

And I am an optimistic person. I guess if you want to try to find something to be pessimistic about, you can find it, no matter how hard you look, you know?

The German asparagus are fabulous.

Saddam built up a massive war machine while neglecting the basic needs of his own people.

Put the 'off' button on.

I believe in the transformational power of liberty. I believe that the free Iraq is in this nation's interests. I believe a free Afghanistan is in this nation's interest.

We honor the heritage of all who come here, no matter where they come from, because we trust in our country's genius for making us all Americans -- one nation under God.

So I analyzed that and decided I didn't want to be the president during a depression greater than the Great Depression, or the beginning of a depression greater than the Great Depression.

There is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second-guessing is not a strategy.

Other Republican candidates may retort to personal attacks and negative ads.

I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office.

No, I know all the war rhetoric, but it's all aimed at achieving peace.

There's not going to be enough people in the system to take advantage of people like me.

I think he needs to stand up and say if he thought the president were wrong on policy and issues, he ought to say where.

I'm the decider, and I decide what is best.

After the bombing, most Iraqis saw what the perpetuators of this attack were trying to do.

I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India, and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world.

I regret that a private comment I made to the vice presidential candidate made it through the public airways.

Some call this civil war; others call it emergency -- I call it pure evil.

The work in Iraq is difficult and it is dangerous. Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed. Every picture is horrifying, and the suffering is real.

You know, what's interesting about Washington...It's the kind of place where second-guessing has become second-nature.

America's highest economic need is higher ethical standards -- enforced by strict laws and upheld by responsible business leaders.

I don't particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by the way, unless I say it.

Afghanistan is the most daring and ambition mission in the history of NATO.

You've got to be pretty hopeless to become a suicide bomber.

The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law.

When you see a threat, you just can't hope for the best in this day and age, where terrorists are capable of inflicting damage on the homeland.

For all who love freedom and peace, the world without Saddam Hussein's regime is a better and safer place.

During my senior year I joined Skull and Bones, a secret society, so secret I can't say anything more.

Americans understand we fight not a religion; ours is not a campaign against the Muslim faith. Ours is a campaign against evil.

We hope that diplomacy works before you ever use force. The hardest decision a president makes is ever to use force.

There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from The New York Times.

Embryonic stem cell research is at the leading edge of a series of moral hazards.

Everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear.

I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.

We need common-sense judges who understand our rights were derived from God.

The fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul.

For decades, free nations tolerated oppression in the Middle East for the sake of stability. In practice, this approach brought little stability and much oppression, so I have changed this policy.

I've got a great sense of where I want to lead and I'm comfortable with why I'm running. And, you know, the call on that speech was, beware. This is going to be a tough campaign.

I may be the only person, the only presidential candidate who never carried the state in which he was born.

My administration has a job to do and we're going to do it. We will rid the world of the evil-doers.

What mattered to me was that I didn't compromise my soul in order to try to achieve a kind of popularity. The only thing you can do is just live your life.

We do not know how much our climate could or will change in the future. We do not know how fast change will occur or even how some of our actions could impact it.

I strongly believe what we're doing is the right thing. If I didn't believe it -- I'm going to repeat what I said before -- I'd pull the troops out, nor if I believed we could win, I would pull the troops out.

A good run adds a little bounce to my step. I get a certain amount of self-esteem from it.

I realize I will never regain my anonymity but I can certainly give it a try. And it's a lot of fun to give it a try.

After all, this is a guy that tried to kill my dad at one time.

We've climbed the mighty mountain. I see the valley below, and it's a valley of peace.

Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a strategy.

I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It's a war against evil people who conduct crimes against innocent people.

The economic crisis gave people the option to put money into private accounts.

The resolution approved today presents the Iraqi regime with a test -- a final test.

One of the common denominators I have found is that expectations rise above that which is expected.

There are cameras nowadays that have been developed to tell the difference between a squirrel and a bomb.

I don't remember debates. I don't think we spent a lot of time debating it. Maybe we did, but I don't remember.

In spite of the fact that at times I would challenge parents authority. They provided unconditional love.

If he's -- the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a -- is a noble institution I would -- I would strongly reject that assumption -- that John Ashcroft is a openminded, inclusive person.

Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th; malicious lies that attempt to shift the blame away from the terrorists, themselves, away from the guilty.

I also have picked a secretary for Housing and Human Development. Mel Martinez from the state of Florida.

We'll find them. It'll be a matter of time to do so.

Conspiracy theories abound in American politics. I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our views on prescription drugs.

We shouldn't fear a world that is more interacted.

You cannot lead an alliance if you say you're going alone.

The Democrats believe they need more of your money to spend because they can spend it better than you can. But you know, sometimes philosophers don't act.

Baptists have long upheld the ideal of a free church in a free state. And from the beginning, they believed that forcing a person to worship against his will violated the principles of both Christianity and civility.

We have now reached a turning point in the struggle between freedom and terror.

The illiteracy level of our children are appalling.

I am comfortable that the principles that I articulated were never compromised.

Natural gas is hemispheric; I like to call it hemispheric in nature, because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods.

They have miscalculated me as a leader.

I understand small business growth. I was one.

Foreign fighters are travelling into Iraq to make it a front line in the war on terror. And I would rather defeat them there than face them in our own country.

We've got a cultural issue in America. We've got to change the whole way the issue is looked at. That's the mission. Some in the political process don't have enough patience for that, and I probably don't either.

That's Washington. That's the place where you find people getting ready to jump out of the foxholes before the first shot is fired.

I believe God did create the world. And I think we're finding out more and more and more as to how it actually happened.

I'm going to put people in my place, so when the history of this administration is written at least there's an authoritarian voice saying exactly what happened.

I want you to know that farmers are not going to be secondary thoughts to a Bush administration. They will be in the forethought of our thinking.

We don't believe in planners and deciders making the decisions on behalf of Americans.

Prayer has comforted us in sorrow and will help strengthen us for the journey ahead.

As young Americans, you have an important responsibility, which is to become good citizens.

Americans are rising to the tasks of history, and they expect the same of us.

As Gerhard Schröder said in the Oval Office, a democratic Iraq is important not only to Germany, but to Europe, and he's right.

Either well succeed, or we wont succeed. And the definition of success as I described is sectarian violence down. Success is not no violence.

If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. If the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.

God told me to strike at al Qaeda and I struck them; then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did.

Initiative and referendum make government more responsive to its citizens, neutralize the power of the special interests and stimulate public involvement in state issues.

The Islam that we know is a faith devoted to the worship of one God, as revealed through The Holy Qu'ran. It teaches the value and importance of charity, mercy, and peace.

Our enemies are a radical network of terrorists -- and every government that supports them.

We will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail.

I firmly believe that a free Iraq will be a catalyst to other substantive and important changes in that part of the world.

The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.

I support the death penalty because I believe, if administered swiftly and justly, capital punishment is a deterrent against future violence and will save other innocent lives.

We must have the attitude that every child in America -- regardless of where they're raised or how they're born -- can learn.

Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.

Globalization has altered the dynamics in the White House, as well as between the White House and the Treasury.

The only thing I know about Slovakia is what I learned first-hand from your foreign minister, who came to Texas.

For too long our culture has said, "If it feels good, do it." Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed: "Let's roll".

Well from a personal perspective, quitting drinking is a decision I felt good about.

Wine is like beer except different.

The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States -- and war is what they got.

Our enemies have made the mistake that America's enemies always make. They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness. And now, they see defeat.

Recognizing and confronting our history is important. Transcending our history is essential. We are not limited by what we have done, or what we have left undone. We are limited only by what we are willing to do.

We're concerned about AIDS inside our White House, make no mistake about it.

Our plan will not favor religious institutions over nonreligious institutions. As president, I'm interested in what is constitutional and I'm interested in what works.

This administration is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. We're making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end.

In the face of all this evil, we remain strong and united, 'One Nation Under God.'

People make suggestions on what to say all the time. I'll give you an example; I don't read what's handed to me. People say ''Here, here's your speech, or here's an idea for a speech.'' They're changed. Trust me.

Unfairly but truthfully, our party has been tagged as being against things. Anti-immigrant, for example. And were not a party of anti-immigrants. Quite the opposite. Were a party that welcomes people.

One of my proudest moments is I didn't sell my soul for the sake of popularity.

One thing you had to learn after the presidency was that you no longer had the sense of responsibility that became ingrained in your system.

One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror.

The financial crisis should not become an excuse to raise taxes, which would only undermine the economic growth required to regain our strength.

I think it's very important for the American president to mean what he says. That's why I understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to be as clearly as I can.

It's none of my business what somebody's orientation is. Now when somebody makes it my business, like on gay marriage, I'm going to stand up and say I don't support gay marriage. I support marriage between men and women.

No matter how advanced our economy might be, no matter how sophisticated our equipment becomes, for the foreseeable future we will still depend on fossil fuels.

When we make a pledge, we mean it. We keep our word, and what we begin, we will finish.

I think that if you don't think we're in a war that you can't win the war.

We do not prescribe any prayer; we welcome all prayer.

Hezbollah is not a state. They're a, you know, supposed political party that happens to be armed.

Science is important, but so is ethics, so is balancing life. To destroy life to save life -- it's one of the real ethical dilemmas that we face.

People say, well, do you ever hear any other voices other than, like, a few people? Of course I do.

There's nothing more deep than recognizing Israel's right to exist. That's the most deep thought of all. ... I can't think of anything more deep than that right.

We need to have our medical records put on the IT.

We will keep a commitment to pluralism and not discriminate for or against Methodist or Mormons or Muslims or good people with no faith at all.

I don't see how we can allow public dollars to fund programs where spite and hate is the core of the message.

And we need a full affront on an energy crisis that is real in California and looms for other parts of our country if we don't move quickly.

My point is that she's Laura Bush busy and I'm busy, which makes our marriage not only interesting but exciting.

I was taught that we should look after the beam in our own eye before searching for the mote in someone else's.

It's important to reach out to moderate Arab nations, like Jordan and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

In every instance when my administration sees a responsibility to help people, we will look first to faith-based institutions, to charities and to community groups that have shown their ability to save and change lives.

For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times.

Thirdly, the explorationists are willing to only move equipment during the winter, which means they'll be on ice roads, and remove the equipment as the ice begins to melt, so that the fragile tundra is protected.

International law? I better call my lawyer; he didn't bring that up to me.

We can't allow the world's worst leaders to blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations hostage with the world's worst weapons.

I want to remind you right quick what this country has been through, and the challenges this economy had faced over the last three years. First, we went through a recession. That means we were going backwards.

When I say drop your pants and show me the moon, I'm not just whistling Dixie!

And one thing we want during this war on terror is for people to feel like their life's moving on, that they're able to make a living and send their kids to college and put more money on the table.

Mr. Vice President, in all due respect, it is-I'm not sure 80 percent of the people get the death tax. I know this: 100 percent will get it if I'm the president.

I've got a job to do, and I'm going to be judged upon whether or not the world is more peaceful and whether or not America is more prosperous and more compassionate.

My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions.

If the Iraqi regime is able to produce, buy or steal an amount of highly enriched uranium a little larger than a single softball, it could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year.

Time is passing...yet for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th.

States should have the right to enact laws... particularly to end the inhumane practice of ending a life that otherwise could live.

I think it's important to bring somebody from outside the system, the judicial system, somebody that hasn't been on the bench and, therefore, there's not a lot of opinions for people to look at.

You've just got to do what you think is right, and just make the decisions based upon noble causes. And a noble cause is peace and security and freedom.

On all vital measures, measures necessary to protect you, the Democrats in Washington follow a simple philosophy: Just say no.

Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country.

Saddam Hussein is a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction.

This is Preservation Month. I appreciate preservation. It's what you do when you run for president. You gotta preserve.

You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you're gone.

We're going to have the best educated American people in the world. People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.

I've been in the Bible every day since I've been the president.

He has certainly earned a reputation as a fantastic mayor, because the results speak for themselves. I mean, New York's a safer place for him to be.

I have faith, as I did when I announced my stem-cell decision in 2001, that science and ethics can coexist.

There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead.

Whatever it took to help Taiwan defend theirself.

Our goal in Iraq is victory. Our goal is for a young democracy to be able to sustain itself, govern itself, and defend itself and serve as an ally in the war on terror.

I'm not that worried about my parents right now because they are happy people. I'm pleased that in their later years, in spite of physical ailments, they're upbeat.

I think I was unprepared for war.

I would like people to understand the rationale for my embryonic stem cell research decision and how the process became distorted over time.

Embryonic stem-cell research requires the destruction of life to create a stem cell. That's why I think we've got to be very careful in balancing the ethics and the science.

Wall Street got drunk and now it's got a hangover. And the question is, how long will it sober up and not try to do those fancy financial instruments?

We had a shared experience. That makes a good marriage better. In many ways our marriage is great because she has made it great.

Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction.

It's amazing I won. I was running against peace, prosperity, and incumbency.

This thaw took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw.

I talked to my little brother, Jeb -- I haven't told this to many people. But he's the governor of -- I shouldn't call him my little brother -- my brother, Jeb, the great Governor of Texas.

In my judgment, the only way to deal with terrorists is to stay on the offensive, is to find them and bring them to justice before they hurt us again.

I mean, there was a serious international effort to say to Saddam Hussein: 'You're a threat'. And the 9 11 attacks accentuated that threat, as far as I'm concerned.

Fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again.

What I'm telling you is there's too many junk lawsuits suing too many doctors.

You work three jobs? Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." To a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005.

If you're a single mother with two children, which is the toughest job in America as far as I'm concerned, and you're working hard to put food on your family.

I can't wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbors back into neighborhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs.

For those of us who lived through these events, the only marker we'll ever need is the tick of a clock at the 46th minute of the eighth hour of the 11th day.

In times of war and in hours of crisis, Senator Kerry has turned his back on 'pay any price' and 'bear any burden', and he's replaced those commitments with 'wait and see' and 'cut and run'.

I believe that God wants me to be president.

I'm playing golf. I ride my mountain bike. A lot. I think it's very important for me and other people my age to continue to exercise.

We ought to make the pie higher.

I sent American troops to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American. Iraqis will write their own history and find their own way.

I developed a reputation as a "hothead" because I got in the face of a lot of reporters and they thought I was just a hotheaded person. What they didn't understand was that I was motivated by love.

If you believe that the job of the federal government is to secure this country, it's really important for you to understand that success in Iraq is part of securing the country.

Theres a lot of blowhards in the political process, you know, a lot of hot-air artists, people who have got something fancy to say.

I can look you in the eye and tell you I feel I've tried to solve the problem diplomatically to the max, and would have committed troops both in Afghanistan and Iraq knowing what I know today.

I was very fortunate to have had a mother and father who loved me in spite of my failings.

Every action being taken against terrorists requires court order, requires scrutiny.

I worry about protectionists, which is another way of saying less competition, less trade around the world. And I view those as twins of negativity.

I can change, but as we speak now, I really have zero desire to see my name in the press.

For decades, the public school system failed too many children, so we passed the No Child Left Behind Act and demanded schools show results in return for money.

I don't want to be in the press.

It is important that social, political, and religious freedoms grow in China. A society which recognizes religious freedom is a society which will recognize political freedom as well.

Look, when you're the president, there's all kinds of things said about us. I mean, it's just the nature of the job.

I firmly believe the death tax is good for people from all walks of life all throughout our society.

This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while.

When an 18-year-old Palestinian girl is persuaded to blow herself up, and in doing so she kills a 17-year-old Israeli girl, we are watching the future itself die!

Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion.

I mean, there needs to be a wholesale effort against racial profiling, which is illiterate children.

It's my first trip as president of the United States.

We're fighting people that hates our values, they can't stand what America stands for.

One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..

A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it.

I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job.

I feel blessed to have been raised a Texan.

What people can't possibly imagine is what it's like to have two presidents who have a relationship as father and son.

There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again.

So thank you for reminding me about the importance of being a good mom and a great volunteer as well.

The way I see it is, I am a boon to the English language.

These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion.

These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of America's resolve.

What Texans can dream, Texans can do.

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Quotas are bad for America. It's not the way America is all about.

I said you were a man of peace. I want you to know I took immense crap for that.

Sometimes armchair quarterbacks are doing it to enhance their own image. I'm just not comfortable with that idea.

Get ready; if the Democrats take the House, your taxes are going up.

My fellow Americans: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.

It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports come from overseas.

You're either with us... or you're with the memes!

I was not pleased that Hamas has refused to announce its desire to destroy Israel.

Thank you, your Holiness. Awesome speech.

Russia is no longer our enemy and therefore we shouldn't be locked into a Cold War mentality that says we keep the peace by blowing each other up. In my attitude, that's old, that's tired, that's stale.

The greatest source of America's generosity is not our government; it's the good heart of the American people.

If you don't stand for anything, you don't stand for anything!

Life really is a series of contrasts.

I believe the role of government is to stand side by side with our citizens to help them realize their dreams, not tell citizens how to live their lives.

Bill Clinton and I are friends; we see each other on the speaking circuit. He likes to be visible. I don't. And I draw no judgment either way.

The contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty and those who kill. on the terrorist bombings in London, July 7, 2005.

Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat.

I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation building.

Tommy (Thompson) is a good listener, and he's a pretty good actor, too.

I think we ought to raise the age at which juveniles can have a gun.

I've changed my style somewhat, as you know. I'm less -- I pontificate less, although it may be hard to tell it from this show. And I'm more interacting with people.

Free market capitalism is far more than economic theory. It is the engine of social mobility-the highway to the American Dream.

We will allow private and religious groups to compete to provide services in every federal, state and local social program.

It is no accident that the rise of so many democracies took place in a time when the world's most influential nation was itself a democracy.

In this job, there are some simple pleasures that really help you cope. One is books, I mean, books are a great escape. Books are a way to get your mind on something else.

We really don't need the United Nations approval to act. When it comes to our security, we do not need anyones permission.

So on behalf of a well-oiled unit of people who came together to serve something greater than themselves, congratulations.

Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos.

This is my maiden voyage. My first speech since I was the president of the United States and I couldn't think of a better place to give it than Calgary, Canada.

One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.

All across America, we gather this week with the people we love to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives.

So many people commute in this country by car long enough distances to really cut into their income, their real income, that they would change their vote based on gas prices.

I hope we get to the bottom of the answer. It's what I'm interested to know.

This way of life is worth defending.

I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine labor secretary. From what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified.

I really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty God is a God to everybody, every person.

Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace.

We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the September 11th.

The once all-powerful ruler of Iraq was found in a hole, and now sits in a prison cell.

I feel a sense of obligation to our troops and their families because of the decisions that I made. So I'm involved with veterans.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world, and no one will keep that light from shining.

Any outlaw regime that has ties to terrorist groups or seeks to possess weapons of mass destruction is a grave danger to the civilised world and will be confronted.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights... stands as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty.

First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill.

Any government that supports, protects or harbours terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent and equally guilty of terrorist crimes.

Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended.

The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially corrupt and decadent and, with a few hard blows, they can force us to retreat. They are mistaken.

I teamed up with the PGA of America to help promote a weekend of golf that raises scholarship money for kids who lost a parent or whose parent was severely wounded in combat.

The action we take and the decisions we make in this decade will have consequences far into this century. If America shows weakness and uncertainty, the world will drift toward tragedy. That will not happen on my watch.

Our nation must come together to unite.

I regret the fact that Saddam Hussein didn't have weapons of mass destruction that we thought. I don't regret removing him from power.

I'm just beginning to live the next chapter of my life. In other words, politics -- being governor and president -- is not the end of my life. It's a chapter.

Government does not create wealth. The major role for the government is to create an environment where people take risks to expand the job rate in the United States.

Together, we will reclaim America's schools, before ignorance and apathy claim more young lives.

I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together.

There will be no going back to the era before September the 11th, 2001 -- to false comfort in a dangerous world.

That road to V-E Day was hard and long, and traveled by weary and valiant men. And history will always record where that road began. It began here, with the first footprints on the beaches of Normandy.

The terrorists do not understand America. The American people do not falter under threat, and we will not allow our future to be determined by car bombers and assassins.

Now the Taliban will pay a price.

If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road.

This young century will be liberty's century.

We'll succeed unless we quit.

And our security will require all Americans to be forward-looking and resolute, to be ready for pre-emptive action.

I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.

I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young; I liked them when I was middle-age; I liked them before I was President; and I like them during President; and I like them after President.

This was not an act of terrorism, but it was an act of war.

This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table.

American foreign policy must be more than the management of crisis. It must have a great and guiding goal: to turn this time of American influence into generations of democratic peace.

Somebody accused us of hiring him and putting him there. He was a classic.

I have a duty to protect the Executive Branch from legislative encroachment.

I served. And now it's time for the new man to serve. I have zero desire to be in the limelight.

The desire for freedom resides in every human heart. And that desire cannot be contained forever by prison walls, or martial laws, or secret police. Over time, and across the Earth, freedom will find a way.

It is white. -- when asked what the White house was like by a student in East London.

There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment and expose the pretensions of tyrants and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant. And that is the force of human freedom.

The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.

Anyway, I'm so thankful, and so gracious -- I'm gracious that my brother Jeb is concerned about the hemisphere as well.

One principle is the universality of freedom. I'm a freedom lover.

We will build our defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness invite challenge. We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is spared new horrors.

A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had shot someone. Ah, those were the good old days.

I was also fortunate that I was raised in a part of the world, West Texas, where individualism is strong.

Over my tenure as governor, I have come not only to respect the political muscle of the Federation; I've come to respect the brains. All of us depend on your efforts and energies.

And as a result of the United States military, Taliban no longer is in existence.

Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed, and delivering justice to the violent, they are making America more secure.

This case has had full analyzation and has been looked at a lot. I understand the emotionality of death penalty cases.

Children and unborn children should be protected by law and welcomed into life.

Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self.

On the issue of evolution, the verdict is still out on how God created the Earth.

Like other forms of stealing, identity theft leaves the victim poor and feeling terribly violated.

To those of you who received honours, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States.

I have made education a top priority of this Administration because when we get it right, when every child learns, America will be a more hopeful place.

I feel a special kinship with our military personnel, veterans, and their families. After all, two of my decisions sent them into harm's way.

And we will win the war, and there will be costs. But the military folks understand that, and so do I, and so does the Secretary of Defense.

Every American should have absolute control over his or her personal information.

Should any Iraqi officer or soldier receive an order from Saddam Hussein.... don't follow that order. Because if you choose to do so, when Iraq is liberated, you will be treated, tried and persecuted as a war criminal.

My mother always said, 'When you're eating pretzels, chew before you swallow'. Always listen to your mother.

The only way to protect our people, the only way to secure the peace, the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership -- so the United States of America will continue to lead.

I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things.

I believe that freedom is the deepest need of every human soul.

I was able to adjust initially by plunging right into the book and the Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University. And it turns out that there is a good way to make a living by giving speeches.

Islam is a faith that brings comfort to people. It inspires them to lead lives based on honesty, and justice, and compassion.

I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound perch in my lake.

I expect you to work hard on our agenda.

When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were. It was us vs them, and it was clear who them was. Today, we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they're there.

The days of discriminating against religious institutions simply because they are religious must come to an end.

First, we would not accept a treaty that would not have been ratified,
nor a treaty that I thought made sense for the country.

There's no such thing as legacies. At least, there is a legacy, but I'll never see it.

And I strongly support the faith-based initiative that we're proposing, because I don't believe it violates the line between the separation of church and state, and I believe it's going to make America a better place.

And I encourage you all to go shopping more.

The United States of America stands for: the ability for people to worship freely, the ability for people to vote and to express their opinion freely is something we hold dear.

I know that the human being and the fish can coexist peacefully.

I wish I wasn't the war president. Who in the heck wants to be a war president? I don't.

We favor a strong nonproliferation program that emphasizes diplomacy, reliance on multilateral regimes, controls on nuclear materials, and cooperative nuclear threat reduction.

The easiest time to be faithful is during a time of crisis. The hardest time for faith is when all is well.

But oftentimes I'm asked, why? Why do you care what happens outside of America?

We will build new ships to carry man forward into the universe, to gain a new foothold on the moon and to prepare for new journeys to the worlds beyond our own.

The law I sign today directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production.

I can't imagine what it would be to be president when the United States at war with yourself. People killing each other here in America on a massive basis. Just can't imagine what it would be.

I'm talking about living life to its fullest.

I didn't -- I swear I didn't -- get into politics to feather my nest or feather my friends' nests.

Now, there are some who would like to rewrite history -- revisionist historians is what I like to call them.

For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible -- and no one can now doubt the word of America.

America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud.

I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand.

In the corporate world, sometimes things aren't exactly black and white when it comes to accounting procedures.

I will always stand firm to protect the sanctity of marriage. I believe it is important to work with people to find common ground on difficult issues.

One of the biggest sacrifices in running for President, if there is one, is the loss of anonymity.

Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time.

America needs a military where our breast and brightest are proud to serve.

A good marriage is really good after serving together in Washington, D.C.

Let's make sure that there is certainty during uncertain times in our economy.

If affirmative action means what I just described, what I'm for, then I'm for it.

I don't have to accept their tenants. I was trying to convince those college students to accept my tenants. And I reject any labeling me because I happened to go to the university.

This may sound a little West Texan to you, but I like it. When I'm talking about.. when I'm talking about myself, and when he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me.

America is addicted to oil and increasing amounts of this oil comes from abroad. Some of the nations we depend on for oil have unstable governments or are hostile towards the United States.

I want to live out principles that became a part of my life in my 40s, 50s, and 60s. One principle is the universality of freedom.

It will take time to restore chaos.

And the cornerstone of my economic policies, when I first got elected, was cutting taxes on everybody on who paid taxes.

I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.

The point is, this is a way to help inoculate me about what has come and is coming.

There is a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' -- Boston, Mass., Oct. 3, 2000.

Let me put it to you this way, I am not a revengeful person.

You saw the president yesterday. I thought he was very forward-leaning, as they say in diplomatic nuanced circles.

The press in America has never been stronger and never been freer and never been more vibrant, sometimes to my chagrin, and a lot of times to my delight.

I think there is some methodology in my travels.

This is still a dangerous world. It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mental losses.

The woman who knew that I had dyslexia -- I never interviewed her.

As far as the legal hassling and wrangling and posturing in Florida, I would suggest you talk to our team in Florida led by Jim Baker.

Teach a child to read and he she will pass a literary test.

I believe that we're in an ideological struggle; I believe the only way to marginalize those who murder the innocent, to achieve our ideological objectives, is to spread democracy and freedom.

The thing that's wrong with the French is that they don't have a word for entrepreneur.

The United States of America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. The killers will fail, and the Iraqi people will live in freedom.

I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.

The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case.

I've got God's shoulder to cry on. And I cry a lot. I do a lot of crying in this job. I'll bet I've shed more tears than you can count, as president.

Helping people helps defines a strategy that makes public and private moneys more effective when it comes to helping save lives.

Presidents, whether things are good or bad, get the blame. I understand that.

Senator Kerry has been in Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue.

There are some who feel like -- that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring 'em on! We've got the force necessary.

I think war is a dangerous place.

I think that there are certain principles which should guide decision-making for a president. One such principle was that we're all God's children, and every life is precious. To me, that's a moral statement.

I don't care what the polls say. I don't. I'm doing what I think what's wrong.

When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive.

We have enough coal to last for 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge.

We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and Freedom will prevail.

When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were. It was us versus them, and it was clear who them was. Today, we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they're there.

We should fund the armies of compassion, we should not discriminate against faith-based programs.

If someone came to me and said, "Your strategy in your post-presidency is brilliant," as if I had figured out a way to make me look better, to me, that analysis is amusing.

Of course we're after Iraq.. eh.. Saddam Hussein.. I mean bin Laden.

She's just trying to make sure Anthony gets a good meal -- Antonio.

The terrorists know that the outcome will leave them emboldened or defeated. So they are waging a campaign of murder and destruction. And there is no limit to the innocent lives they are willing to take.

The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on September the 11th.

In my sentences I go where no man has gone before.

How can you possibly have an international agreement that's effective unless countries like China and India are not full participants?

Evil men, obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience, must be taken very seriously -- and we must stop them before their crimes can multiply.

So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.

Then I went for a run with the other dog and just walked. And I started thinking about a lot of things. I was able to -- I can't remember what it was. Oh, the inaugural speech, started thinking through that.

I believe that freedom is a gift from an Almighty to every man, woman, and child; that is a principle that was important to me during my presidency and I think it's an important principle.

I think I'm the only president other than John Kennedy who had both parents alive during the presidency.

I think we're making progress. We understand where the power of this country lay. It lies in the hearts and souls of Americans. It must lay in our pocketbooks. It lies in the willingness for people to work hard.

The Ambassador and the General were briefing me on the....the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice.

The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany.

For me, I learned from my father that when it's over, it's over.

I'm going to be involved with freedom; I'm going to be involved in the marketplace; I'm going to be involved in the accountability in schools.

Laura and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an objective analysis.

The fact that he relies on facts -- says things that are not factual -- are going to undermine his campaign.

It would be helpful if we opened up ANWR. I think it's a mistake not to. And I would urge you all to travel up there and take a look at it, and you can make the determination as to how beautiful that country is.

My administration has been calling upon all the leaders in the -- in the Middle East to do everything they can to stop the violence, to tell the different parties involved that peace will never happen.

Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness.

I love free speech.

This is a very difficult assignment for the United States, to hang in there and help this young democracy survive.

The deliberate and deadly attacks which were carried out yesterday against our country were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war.

Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.

There is a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.'
- Boston, Mass., Oct. 3, 2000.

Statesman" gives the impression that every time a major issue comes up, I'll be popping off. And that's not what's going to happen.

We're now interested in finding those who may attack America and arrest them before they do. We've had over nearly a thousand people have been detained in America and questioned about their motives and their intentions.

Information is moving -- you know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it's also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets.

It's amazing I won. I was running against peace, prosperity, and incumbency." --George W. Bush, June 14, 2001, speaking to Swedish Prime Minister Goran Perrson, unaware that a live television camera was still rolling.

Those who heralded the decision not to give law enforcement the tools necessary to protect the American people just simply don't see the world the way we do.

And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it.

We're supposed to have guns. It says so in the Bible; and the second greatest book ever written, the Texas State Constitution.

There are a lot of tactical decisions that, if I could have done them over, I would have.

In order for the U.N. to be effective, there must be consequences if people thumb their nose at the United Nations Security Council. And we will work with people on the Security Council to achieve that objective.

North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.

We must help the reformers of the Middle East as they work for freedom, and strive to build a community of peaceful, democratic nations.

Our new faith-based laws have removed government as a roadblock to people of faith who hear the call.

I will never relent in defending America -- whatever it takes.

Out of 135 criminals, including robbers and rapists, 118 admitted that when they were children they burned, hanged and stabbed domestic animals.

Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better.

States like (Iraq, Iran, and North Korea), and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.

Our job is to help Iraq forces be better equipped, to help their police be able to deal with these extremists and to help their government succeed.

Too many of our children cannot read. Reading is the building block, and it must be the foundation for education reform.

We cannot let terrorists hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile.

The biggest threat facing America is terrorists with weapons of mass destruction.

We got plenty of money in Washington. What we need is more priority.

I think that the vice president is a person reflecting a half-glass-full mentality.

One of the things important about history is to remember the true history.

It is not Reaganesque to support a tax plan that is Clinton in nature.

Give me a chance to be your president and America will be safer and stronger and better.

America has never been an empire. We may be the only great power in history that had the chance, and refused -- preferring greatness to power and justice to glory.

We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease.

You can't put democracy and freedom back into a box.

There is a language barrier between vets and the civilian population. They speak different languages.

It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet.

Sometimes when I sleep at night I think of (Dr. Seuss's) 'Hop on Pop.'

One of the very difficult parts of the decision I made on the financial crisis was to use hardworking people's money to help prevent there to be a crisis.

I want to make it clear to people that the idea of putting subliminable messages into ads is ridiculous.

I think whoever is the president he must guard your liberties, must not erode your rights in America.

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

We can't impose freedom, but we can eliminate roadblocks to freedom, and to allow free societies to develop.

I can press when there needs to be pressed; I can hold hands when there needs to be -- hold hands.

The business pages of American newspapers should not read like a scandal sheet.

When you ride a bike and you get your heart rate up and you're out, after 30 or 40 minutes your mind tends to expand; it tends to relax.

One of the things that I will have ended my public service time with is a group of friends, a lot of friends. And I want to stay in touch with them and there's no better way to communicate with them than through email.

This campaign not only hears the voices of the entrepreneurs and the farmers and the entrepreneurs, we hear the voices of those struggling to get ahead.

Outwit, outlast, outplay. It's the tagline for the television show Survivor and it's damn near what presidenting is like, too.

Today we affirm a new commitment to live out our nation's promise through civility, courage, compassion and character.

I do believe in the sanctity of marriage. ...But I don't see that as conflict with being a tolerant person or an understanding person.

An all-volunteer army is best suited to fight the new wars of the 21st century.

Golf is a game of integrity. And golf is a game of forgiveness. I think the high standards of golf remind people of how lucky they are, or how fortunate they are, to be able to play the game.

The 20th century ended with a single surviving model of human progress.

How great the lie right to the top: We don't torture people in America and people who say we do simply know nothing about our country.

We think it is in our nation's interest that Afghan women -- or any women around the world -- not suffer.

No one wants to be a polarizer, but on the other hand, if you think you're doing right and you believe the decisions you make will lead to a better tomorrow, then they're worthy of defense.

You know, if you find a person that you've never seen before getting in a crop-duster that doesn't belong to you, report it.

I'm not surprised if we begin to uncover the weapons program of Saddam Hussein -- because he had a weapons program.

Great tragedy has come to us, and we are meeting it with the best that is in our country, with courage and concern for others because this is America. This is who we are.

Big Texas (Nolan Ryan) is here. The reason I like to keep Nolan around is he is a reminder that when we got done with the Sammy Sosa trade, there was still some talent on the Rangers.

There's a lot of things that there's misconceptions. Evidently it's a misconceptions that Americans believe that Muslims are terrorists.

When you turn your heart and your life over to Christ, when you accept Christ as the savior, it changes your heart.

It is incredibly presumptive for somebody who has not yet earned his party's nomination to start speculating about vice presidents.

I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet.

I have zero desire to be in the limelight.

People make suggestions on what to say all the time... Trust me.

The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself.

The presidency is a serious job that requires sound judgment and good ideas, and there's no doubt in my mind that Jeb Bush has the experience and the character to be a great president.

Culture of life is really important for a country to have if it's going to be a hospitable society.

Sometimes in this world you make unpopular decisions because you think they're right.

Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time everywhere.

We look forward to analyzing and working with legislation that will make -- it would hope -- put a free press's mind at ease that you're not being denied information you shouldn't see.

The wisest use of American strength is to advance freedom.

I take personal responsibility for everything I say.

Our law enforcement must have every tool necessary to find and disrupt terrorists at home and abroad. That's the task of the 21st century.

I believe in the universality of freedom and therefore want to be involved in the freedom movement.

As the president, you're pretty much in a bubble. And golf is a good way to get out of the bubble.

I'm forever a former president and I understand that, but at this point in my post-presidency, I don't want to be involved with politics.

I'd also remind people, if I were running for Presidency, that a long-term problem facing the budget is Social Security and Medicare.

Americans practice different faiths in churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. And many good people practice no faith at all.

People say, 'How can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil?' You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you.

Running for president was a good decision.

“Governments accountable to the voters focus on building roads and schools—not weapons of mass destruction.”.

The United States is a Christian nation founded upon Christian principles and beliefs.

If the terriers and bariffs are torn down, this economy will grow.

I come from a different generation from my Dad.

The students at Yale came from all different backgrounds and all parts of the country. Within months, I knew many of them.

But as importantly, it lies in the fact that we've got citizens from all walks of life, all political parties, that are willing to say, I want to love my neighbor. I want to make somebody's life just a little bit better.

If you are young child and you've lost mother and dad to AIDS and rich nations sit on the sidelines not caring, you will become a frustrated person and a hopeless person.

This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating.

I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport.

Terrorists and their allies believe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the American Bill of Rights and every charter of liberty ever written are lies to be burned and destroyed and forgotten.

This nation is daring and decent and ready for change.

After the chaos and carnage of September 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers.

I believe we owe it to our children and grandchildren to stay engaged and to help spread liberty and to help reformers.

It was much easier for me to endure the belittling than it was to watch my dad get belittled.

I am a war president.

You know, nobody likes to see innocent people die. Nobody wants to turn on their TV on a daily basis and see havoc wrought by terrorists.

I don't care what the polls say. I don't.

I don't think that witchcraft is a religion. I wish the military would rethink this decision.

You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.

Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every nation.

I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves.

Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods.

Of all states that understands local control of schools, Iowa is such a state.

It's important for young men and women who look at the Nebraska champs to understand that quality of life is more than just blocking shots.

Each day millions of our citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking His grace and giving thanks for the many blessings He bestows upon us.

The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.

The all-volunteer army works. It works particularly when we pay our troops well.

The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror -- and America is honored to be their friend.

Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican.

Iraq and Afghanistan are now democracies and they are allies in the cause of freedom and peace.

A lot of times in the rhetoric, people forget the facts. And the facts are that thousands of small businesses-Hispanically owned or otherwise-pay taxes at the highest marginal rate.

Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.

I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to come and witness my hanging.

I am very comfortable with the strategic decisions that I made.

Renewing the promise of America begins with upholding the dignity of human life.

These stories about my intellectual capacity really get under my skin. You know, for a while I even thought my staff believed it. There on my schedule first thing every morning it said, 'Intelligence Briefing.'

The important question is, How many hands have I shaked?

Whatever party you're in in America, our troops deserve the full support of our government.

I appreciate that question because I, in the state of Texas, had heard a lot of discussion about a faith-based initiative eroding the important bridge between church and state.

For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America.

The problem is, there was plenty of trash talk during my presidency. A lot.

In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.

I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating.

If I'm the president, we're going to have emergency-room care, we're going to have gag orders.

One of the worst days in America's history saw some of the bravest acts in Americans' history. We'll always honor the heroes of 9 11. And here at this hallowed place, we pledge that we will never forget their sacrifice.

Anyone engaging in illegal financial transactions will be caught and persecuted.

To give law enforcement the additional tools it needs to track down terror here at home.

We all know the big elephant in the room. The big elephant in the room is African governments. Africa has been totally mismanaged and misruled, but nobody wants to talk about that because of political correctness.

I don't think you're entitled to read my mail between my daughters and me.