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.

George H. W. Bush

Categorized in : Thinking America Country

The American Dream means giving it your all, trying your hardest, accomplishing something. And then I'd add to that, giving something back. No definition of a successful life can do anything but include serving others.

George H. W. Bush

successful dream mean

If the American people knew what we have done, they would string us up from the lamp posts.

George H. W. Bush

lamps done people

The anchor in our world today is freedom, holding us steady in times of change, a symbol of hope to all the world.

George H. W. Bush

freedom change hope

Any definition of a successful life must include service to others.

George H. W. Bush

service-to-others definitions success

Courage is a terribly important value. It means you don’t run away when things are tough. It means you don’t turn away from a friend when he or she is in trouble. It means standing up against the majority opinion... There’s a lot of people who won’t wear it on their sleeve, or display it through some heroic act. But courage is having the strength to do what’s honorable and decent.

George H. W. Bush

courage running mean

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

George H. W. Bush

presidential education thinking

Nearly all Americans have ancestors who braved the oceans-liberty-loving risk takers in search of an ideal-the largest voluntary migrations in recorded history. Across the Pacific, across the Atlantic, they came from every point on the compass-many passing beneath the Statue of Liberty-with fear and vision, with sorrow and adventure, fleeing tyranny or terror, seeking haven, and all seeking hope...Immigration is not just a link to America's past; it's also a bridge to America's future.

George H. W. Bush

ocean adventure past

If the people were to ever find out what we have done, we would be chased down the streets and lynched.

George H. W. Bush

freedom gun people

Lincoln said you cannot be President without spending some item on your knees. I have repeated that and a bunch of Atheists got all over me. Wait a minute. Does that mean that you cannot be President if you are an Atheist? I say yea that does mean that.

George H. W. Bush

atheist waiting mean

We don't want an America that is closed to the world. What we want is a world that is open to America.

George H. W. Bush

patriotic america world

Freedom and the power to choose should not be the privilege of wealth. They are the birthright of every American.

George H. W. Bush

privilege liberty america

Be bold in your caring, and be bold in your dreaming.

George H. W. Bush

humor caring dream

Whoever says Americas best days are behind it are looking the wrong direction.

George H. W. Bush

wrong-direction behinds

Education is not complete unless we teach our children not only how to read and write but the difference between right and wrong.

George H. W. Bush

education writing children

This is a fact: Strength in the pursuit of peace is no vice; isolation in the pursuit of security is no virtue.

George H. W. Bush

isolation vices facts

We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves, a shining purpose, the illumination of a Thousand Points of Light...We all have something to give.

George H. W. Bush

illumination light giving

If I were to give advice to young people, high-achieving young people for example, I’d have to say, don’t neglect your family. Politics is important, sitting at the head table is glamorous. Traveling around the world, trying to do something for world peace was wonderful. But family and friends and faith are what really matter in life. And I know that. I see it so clearly now.

George H. W. Bush

faith peace people

Our stewardship of the Earth is brief. We owe it to those who follow to keep that in perspective, to be responsible passengers along the way.

George H. W. Bush

environmental perspective earth

We need an independent media to hold people like me to account.

George H. W. Bush

independent media people

The notion of political correctness has ignited controversy across the land. And although the movement arises from the laudable desire to sweep away the debris of racism and sexism and hatred it replaces old prejudices with new one. It declares certain topics off-limits, certain expressions off-limits, even certain gestures off-limits. What began as a crusade for civility has soured into a cause of conflict and even censorship.

George H. W. Bush

land racism expression