Quotessence
Home / Authors / William J. Clinton
William J. Clinton

William J. Clinton Quotes

42nd U.S. President

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleIfsWorldAmericaPresidentThinkingShouldCountryKnowsYearsStupidWantGovernmentHumorousBelieveWayNationsChildrenCenturyGiving

Famous William J. Clinton Quotes

“I want our nation to take responsibility to make sure that every single child can look out the window in the morning and see a whole community getting up and going to work. We want these young people to know the thrill of the first paycheck, the challenge of starting that first business, the pride in following in a parent's footsteps.”

PeopleKnowsWantFirstsLooksChildrenWholeYoungNationsParentCommunityChallengesResponsibilityMorningPrideWindowStartingFollowingThrillTaking ResponsibilityGoing To WorkFootstepsPaychecksSingle Child
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“Our bridge to the future must include bridges to other nations, because we remain the world's indispensable nation to advance prosperity, peace and freedom and to keep our own children safe from the dangers of terror and weapons of mass destruction.”

WorldChildrenNationsDangerSafeWeaponsMassDestructionTerrorProsperityBridgesIndispensableWeapons Of Mass DestructionMass Destruction
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1995
Create image

“On Earth Day I made a commitment to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. And I asked for a blueprint on how to achieve this goal. In concert with all other nations, we simply must halt global warming. It is a threat to our health, to our ecology, and to our economy. I know that the precise magnitude and patterns of climate change cannot be fully predicted. But global warming clearly is a growing, long-term threat with profound consequences. And make no mistake about it, it will take decades to reverse.”

KnowsYearsLongMadeEarthNationsGoalTermLevelsMistakeEconomyGrowingAchieveCommitmentConsequenceThreatProfoundClimateClimate ChangePatternsDecadesLong TermGlobal WarmingConcertsReverseEcologyPreciseEmissionsHaltMagnitudeEarth DayBlueprintsGreenhousesGreenhouse Gases
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“This is a good deal for the United States, north Korea will freeze and then dismantle its nuclear program. South Korea and our other allies will be better protected. The entire world will be safer as we slow the spread of nuclear weapons. The United States and international inspectors will carefully monitor North Korea to make sure it keeps its commitments. ...Only as it does, so will North Korea fully join the community of nations.”

WorldDoeStatesNationsCommunityUnitedDealsUnited StatesWeaponsCommitmentProgramSouthInternationalSpreadNuclearAlliesProtectedNuclear WeaponsKoreaNorth KoreaFreezeInspectorsSouth Korea
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“The arts have long been an integral and vibrant part of our nation's cultural heritage. In its many forms, art enables us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and of our society. Providing us with a unique way to learn about people of other cultures, it allows us to discover all that we have in common. At its best, art can beautify our cities, encourage economic development and social change, and profoundly affect the ways we live our lives.”

PeopleWayLongArtFormCultureNationsSocialUnderstandingCommonCitiesOur LivesEconomicDevelopmentUniqueGainsDeeperOur SocietyHeritageProvidingSocial ChangeEconomic DevelopmentOther CulturesCultural HeritageDeeper UnderstandingBest Art
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“Through scientific discovery and technological innovation, we enlist the forces of the natural world to solve many of the uniquely human problems we face - feeding and providing energy to agrowing population, improving human health, taking responsibility for protecting the environment and the global ecosystem, and ensuring our own Nation's security. Scientific discoveries inspire and enrich us, teaching us about the mysteries of life and the nature of the world.”

WorldHumansProblemFacesEnergyForceNationsNaturalResponsibilityEnvironmentMysteryTeachingSecurityInspireDiscoveryInnovationPopulationSolveProvidingTechnologicalImprovingFeedingTaking ResponsibilityNatural WorldEcosystemsScientific DiscoveryMystery Of LifeHuman ProblemsHuman Health
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“Thomas Jefferson understood the greater purpose of the liberty that our Founding Fathers sought during the creation of our Nation. Although it was against the British that the colonists fought for political rights, the true source of the rights of man was clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson wrote that all humans are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights . . . . It was self-evident to him that denying these rights was wrong and that he and others must struggle to win what was theirs.”

MenHumansSelfPoliticalPurposeCertainFatherWinningNationsLibertyStruggleGreaterRightsCreationSourceUnderstoodIndependenceCreatorBritishEvidentDeclarationFoundingOur Founding FathersDeclaration Of IndependenceUnalienable RightsPolitical RightsColonistsGreater Purpose
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“More than any other nation on Earth, America has constantly drawn strength and spirit from wave after wave of immigrants. In each generation, they have proved to be the most restless, the most adventurous, the most innovative, the most industrious of people. Bearing different memories, honoring different heritages, they have strengthened our economy, enriched our culture, renewed our promise of freedom and opportunity for all.”

PeopleDifferentEarthAmericaSpiritCultureOpportunityNationsMemoriesEconomyGenerationsPromiseWaveImmigrationImmigrantsHeritageRestlessInnovativeAdventurousIndustriousHaving Strength
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“In the budget I will present to you, we will try to do more to speed the deportation of illegal aliens who are arrested for crimes, to better identify illegal aliens in the workplace as recommended by the commission headed by former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. We are a nation of immigrants. But we are also a nation of laws. It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and we must do more to stop it.”

TryingYearsKindSelfLawNationsCrimeAbuseSpeedImmigrationFormerAliensBudgetsImmigrantsIllegalPermitWorkplaceArrestedJordanBarbaraIllegal AliensDeportationImmigration Laws
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow.”

IfsKindMayStatesUseTodayNationsCommunityFailingReadyTomorrowWeaponsMassDestructionThreatIraqTerroristPatrioticSaddamFootstepsWeapons Of Mass DestructionMass DestructionRoguesWmdWmds In Iraq
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1998
Create image

“To realize the full possibilities of this economy, we must reach beyond our own borders, to shape the revolution that is tearing down barriers and building new networks among nations and individuals, and economies and cultures: globalization. It's the central reality of our time.”

RealityCultureIndividualNationsRealizingEconomyPossibilityBuildingRevolutionShapesBordersOur TimeBarriersPatrioticGlobalization
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 2000-2001
Create image

“The purpose of affirmative action is to give our nation a way to finally address the systemic exclusion of individuals of talent on the basis of their gender, or race from opportunities to develop, perform, achieve and contribute. Affirmative action is an effort to develop systematic approach to open the doors of education, employment, and business development opportunities to qualified individuals who happen to be members of groups that have experienced long-standing and persistent discrimination.”

WayGivingLongHappensActionPurposeOpportunityIndividualNationsEffortRaceDoorsGroupsAchieveTalentDevelopmentMembersApproachStandingBasesGenderDiscriminationEmploymentAddressesPersistentQualifiedSystematicExclusionAffirmative ActionAffirmative
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1995
Create image

“The divide of race has been America's constant curse. Each new wave of immigrants gives new targets to old prejudices. Prejudice and contempt, cloaked in the pretense of religious or political conviction, are no different. They have nearly destroyed us in the past. They plague us still. They fuel the fanaticism of terror. They torment the lives of millions in fractured nations around the world. These obsessions cripple both those who are hated and, of course, those who hate, robbing both of what they might become.”

WorldGivingHas BeensStillsDifferentMightAmericaPastPoliticalHateCoursesNationsReligiousRaceMillionsHellPrejudiceConstantWaveTerrorConvictionObsessionDestroyedAround The WorldHatedCurseFuelImmigrantsTargetDividesContemptTormentPlagueFanaticismPretenseRobbingPretenceCripplesAnti Discrimination
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual lives... core ethical values of trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility, caring, respect, and citizenship form the foundation of our democracy, our economy, and our society... Instilling sound character in our children is essential to maintaining the strength of our Nation into the 21st century.”

ChildrenDoeCharacterFormValuesIndividualNationsSoundCommunityResponsibilityEconomyDemocracyWeekCenturyCitizensEssentialsImportanceOur ChildrenFoundationCaringCoreCelebrateOur SocietyEthicalFairnessCitizenship21st CenturyMaintainingTrustworthinessIndividual LifeEthical Values
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“This is a huge problem. If we don't deal with this within just a few years, you will have island nations flooded; you will have the agricultural balance of most countries completely changed; you will have a dramatic increase in the number of severe, unmanageable weather events... And the good news is that we can now deal with this problem - and strengthen our economic growth, not weaken it.”

IfsYearsCountryProblemNationsGrowthDealsNumbersEconomicEventsChangedHugeBalanceNewsIncreaseClimateWeatherDramaticIslandsSevereGood NewsEconomic Growth
Author:William J. Clinton
Create image

“The new century demands new partnerships for peace and security. The United Nations plays a crucial role, with allies sharing burdens America might otherwise bear alone. America needs a strong and effective U.N. I want to work with this new Congress to pay our dues and our debts. We must continue to support security and stability in Europe and Asia - expanding NATO and defining its new missions, maintaining our alliance with Japan, with Korea, with our other Asian allies, and engaging China.”

WorldWantNeedsPlayMightAmericaStrongNationsUnitedPayRolesSupportCenturySecurityBearsDemandEuropeCongressBurdenChinaMissionsDebtDuesJapanAlliesStabilityCrucialPartnershipAsiaEngagingUnited NationsExpandingMaintainingAsianDefiningKoreaAlliancesNew World OrderNatoPeace And Security
Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1999
Create image