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. George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999 More Quotes by George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999 More Quotes From George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999 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. George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999 In the defense of our nation, a president must be a clear-eyed realist. There are limits to the smiles and scowls of diplomacy. Armies and missiles are not stopped by stiff notes of condemnation. They are held in check by strength and purpose and the promise of swift punishment. George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999 The case for trade is not just monetary, but moral. Economic freedom creates habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create expectations of democracy. George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999