I have learned that one of the most important rules in politics is poise - which means looking like an owl after you have behaved like a jackass. Ronald Reagan More Quotes by Ronald Reagan More Quotes From Ronald Reagan If we've learned any lessons during the past few decades, perhaps the most important is that preservation of our environment is not a partisan challenge; it's common sense. Our physical health, our social happiness, and our economic well-being will be sustained only by all of us working in partnership as thoughtful, effective stewards of our natural resources. Ronald Reagan thoughtful common-sense past You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done. Ronald Reagan memorial-day patriotic children If it takes a bloodbath now let's get it over with. Ronald Reagan activism presidential stupid The size of the federal budget is not an appropriate barometer of social conscience or charitable concern. Ronald Reagan size government social I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world. Ronald Reagan veterans-and-freedom memorial-day liberty Shouldn't someone tag Mr. Kennedy's bold new imaginative program with its proper age? Under the tousled boyish haircut is still old Karl Marx - first launched a century ago. There is nothing new in the idea of a Government being Big Brother. Ronald Reagan government brother ideas Someone must stand up to those who say, "Here's the key, there's the Treasury, just take as many of those hard-earned tax dollars as you want." Ronald Reagan dollars political keys We can't have it both ways. We can't expect God to protect us in a crisis and just leave Him over there on the shelf in our day-to-day living. I wonder if sometimes He isn't waiting for us to wake up, He isn't maybe running out of patience. Ronald Reagan voting waiting running The preservation of parks, wilderness, and wildlife has also aided liberty by keeping alive the 19th century sense of adventure and awe with which our forefathers greeted the American West. Many laws protecting environmental quality have promoted liberty by securing property against the destructive trespass of pollution. In our own time, the nearly universal appreciation of these preserved landscapes, restored waters, and cleaner air through outdoor recreation is a modern expression of our freedom and leisure to enjoy the wonderful life that generations past have built for us. Ronald Reagan appreciation adventure past I just have to believe that with love for our natural heritage and a firm resolve to preserve it with wisdom and care, we can and will give the American land to our children, not impaired, but enhanced. And in doing this, we'll honor the great and loving God who gave us this land in the first place. Ronald Reagan land believe children Thomas Jefferson made a comment about the Presidency and age. He said that one should not worry about one's exact chronological age in reference to his ability to perform one's task. And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying. Ronald Reagan tasks age worry If you don't know whether a body is alive or dead, you would never bury it. I think this consideration itself should be enough for all of us to insist on protecting the unborn. Ronald Reagan alive body thinking I don't think any of us should forget that the security of America is our highest responsibility. Ronald Reagan responsibility america thinking Wherever a beautiful soul has been there is a trail of beautiful memories. Ronald Reagan soul beautiful memories The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated. Ronald Reagan principles pounds pay You know, if Nancy Davis hadn't come along when she did, I would have lost my soul. Ronald Reagan nancy soul lost And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an American, let 'em know and nail 'em on it. That would be a very American thing to do. Ronald Reagan teaching mean children Life involves effort and growth. You won't grow by watching a situation comedy, though you can grow by reading a book. I hope we aren't becoming a nation of watchers, because what made us great is that we've always been a nation of doers. Ronald Reagan effort reading book Marijuana is probably the most dangerous drug in America today. Ronald Reagan marijuana drug america A broader reading of history shows that appeasement, no matter how it is labeled, never fulfills the hopes of the appeasers. Ronald Reagan appeasement reading matter