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George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush Quotes

41st U.S. President

George H. W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States, born on June 12, 1924. He had a rich experience in politics and diplomacy, serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Director of Central Intelligence, and Vice President. As President, Bush led the United States through the end of the Cold War and played a key role in the Gulf War of 1991, contributing significantly to regional stability.

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Famous George H. W. Bush Quotes

“I think in defeat you grope for things that are happy, and it's hard.”

Thinking Hard Happiness Defeat

Author:George H. W. Bush

“If you believe that there's a being superior to yourself and that will guide you, strengthen you that helps a lot but, you know, you just have to stay the course. You just got to stay in there. You cannot be waffling or taking a poll to see what people think. You have to do what you think is right.”

People Ifs Thinking Knows Believe Helping Courses Guides Superiors Polls If You Believe

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I don't like dynasty and legacy. But I think there's a period in the U.S. history where Bushes have been in the forefront.”

Thinking Has Beens Periods Legacy Dynasty

Author:George H. W. Bush

“We don't think of ourselves as a dynasty. I really hope some of my grandkids will be actively involved in politics.”

Thinking Involved Grandkids Dynasty

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I don't worry about superpower confrontation. You know, I lived through the Cold War days, and where everybody was worried about a Soviet Union armed to the teeth. I think we're going to get along fine with Russia, and I don't see them as internationally ambitious.”

Thinking Knows War Worry Fine Cold Unions Russia Teeth Worried Soviet Ambitious Cold War Soviet Union Confrontation Superpower

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think the spirit of America, one American wanting to make another American's life better, or internationally our desire to see countries do better, or people in countries do better, coming from this concept of volunteerism is a very valid and important part of our internal being.”

People Thinking Important Country America Spirit Desire Concepts Internals Volunteerism

Author:George H. W. Bush

“Yogi's been an inspiration to me, not only because of his baseball skills, but of course for the enduring mark he left on the English language. Some in the press corps think he might even be my speechwriter.”

Thinking Inspiration Might Courses Left Language Skills Baseball Mark Presses Endure English Language Yogi

Author:George H. W. Bush

“The potential of this nation is as boundless as the imagination and drive of the American people. . . . Quality management is not just a step. It must be a new style of working. Even a new style of thinking. The dedication to quality and excellence is more than good business; it's a way of life.”

People Thinking Way Nations Imagination Quality Steps Style Management Excellence Dedication Boundless Good Business Quality Management

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think 9/11 guaranteed that national security is going to be in the forefront of every election.”

Thinking Security Election National Security

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think it's very hard to fight the war on terrorism if we're in retreat.”

Ifs Thinking War Hard Fighting Terrorism Retreat War On Terror War On Terrorism

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think I'd be a better president because I was in combat.”

Thinking President Combat

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think the 24-hour news cycle has helped exaggerate the differences between the parties. You can always find someone on TV somewhere carping about something. That didn't happen 20 years ago.”

Thinking Years Happens Hours Differences Party Tvs News Years Ago Cycles

Author:George H. W. Bush

“Well, I think everybody is frustrated by the finances of the U.N. and the inability to solve problems of war and peace.”

Thinking Wells War Problem Solve Finance Frustrated Inability

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I'll be glad to reply to or dodge your questions, depending on what I think will help our election most.”

Thinking Helping Political Politics Election Glad Dodge

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think when you see an aircraft fire, these angry, black puffs of smoke, knowing that one of them could kill you that you - you - you understand the seriousness of the mission. And you understand your own mortality.”

Thinking Black Knowing Fire Angry Missions Smoke Mortality Seriousness Aircraft Puff

Author:George H. W. Bush

“The fact is prosperity has a purpose. It's to allow us to pursue "the better angels," to give us time to think and grow.”

Thinking Giving Facts Purpose Grows Angel Prosperity Pursue Time To Think

Author:George H. W. Bush

“Every problem that the country faces is being solved in some community by some group or some individual. The question is how to get connected so that the whole nation can solve problems. A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens - citizens in the fullest sense; partners in civilization.”

Thinking Feels Persons Country Whole Problem Faces Individual Nations Community Groups Citizens Civilization Connected Solve Partners Gifted Volunteer

Author:George H. W. Bush

“Abraham Lincoln truly inspired me. It wasn’t just the freeing of the slaves, he kept the Union together. Some people even forget that today. What I think inspired me was the fact that in spite of being the president of the United States he retained a certain down-to-earth quality. He never got to be a big shot, and he cared about people.”

People Thinking States Facts Bigs Today Earth Together Certain President Forget United Quality United States Shots Unions Slave Inspired Caring Spite Abraham Down To Earth Big Shots

Author:George H. W. Bush

“Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education.”

Thinking Problem Faces Challenges Education Solutions Presidential Public School Public Education Schools And Education Us President Presidents Day Challenges We Face Us Presidential Education In America

Author:George H. W. Bush

“It's family, and it's faith, and it's friends, and it's not the glamour of the Presidency, or the wonder of going to receive the Nobel Prize. All those are important, of course. But maybe it's just that I'm 71 years old now. It's family, and it's faith, and it's friends. I would tell them that. Don't forget that. In your brilliance, don't turn your back on your friends. Don't think you're entitled to something, you're smarter than the next guy.”

Thinking Years Important Guy Turns Courses Next Friendship Forget Wonder Prize Smarter Entitled Presidency Glamour Brilliance Nobel Nobel Prize

Author:George H. W. Bush

“American business can out-think, out-work, out-perform any nation in the world. But we can't beat the competition if we don't get in the ball game.”

Ifs Thinking World Games Nations Business Beats Balls Competition Work Out Ball Games American Business

Author:George H. W. Bush

“I think the major event that shaped my life was being a Naval aviator. I got my commission and wings at 18 years old, and then I went into combat at 19. And I think, as I look back on it, that whole experience probably shaped my life more than any incident, or any event.”

Thinking Life Years Looks Whole Events Majors Experience Wings Combat Incidents Naval Aviator

Author:George H. W. Bush

About the Author

Born: June 12, 1924
Known for: 41st U.S. President
Quotes: 249

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Nations People World President United Knows Thinking America States War Political United States Ifs Patriotic Politics Presidential Way Country Giving Order

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Books & Sources

Speaking of Freedom: The Collected SpeechesRelated source material

All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other WritingsRelated source material

A World TransformedRelated source material

Inaugural Speeches from the Presidents of the United States - Complete EditionRelated source material

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