Ronald Reagan quotes

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again. "

"When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much."

"In some dim beginning, man created the institution of government as a convenience for himself. And, ever since that time, government has been doing its best to become an inconvenience. "

"The...inescapable truth is: government does not have all the answers. In too many instances, government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."

"...The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program."

"Individual liberty depends upon keeping government under control. "

"The dustbin of history is littered with remains of those countries that relied on diplomacy to secure their freedom. We must never forget...in the final analysis...that it is our military, industrial and economic strength that offers the best guarantee of peace for America in times of danger."

"Government does not tax to get the money it needs; government always finds a need for the money it gets."

"Our loyalty lies with little taxpayers, not big spenders. What our critics really believe is that those in Washington know better how to spend your money than you, the people, do. But we're not going to let them do it, period. "

"Terrorism is the preferred weapon of weak and evil men. "

"Live each day to the fullest. Live each day with enthusiasm, optimism and hope. If you do, I am convinced that your contribution to this wonderful experiment we call America will be profound. "

"Don't let anyone tell you that America's best days are behind her - that the American spirit has been vanquished. We've seen it triumph too often in our lives to stop believing in it now. "

"This democracy of ours, which sometimes we've treated so lightly, is more than ever a comfortable cloak, so let us not tear it asunder, for no man knows, once it is destroyed, where or when he will find its protective warmth again. "