George H. W. Bush

The U.S.S. George H. W. Bush is a great thing in my life. It’s amazing. A great honor.

The day will come – and it is not far off – when the legacy of Lincoln will finally be fulfilled at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, when a black man or woman will sit in the Oval Office. When that day comes, the most remarkable thing about it will be how naturally it occurs.

We are not the sum of our possessions.

History will point out some of the things I did wrong and some of the things I did right.

I think the 24-hour news cycle has helped exaggerate the differences between the parties. You can always find someone on TV somewhere carping about something. That didn’t happen 20 years ago.

Please don’t ask me to do that which I’ve just said I’m not going to do, because you’re burning up time. The meter is running through the sand on you, and I am now filibustering.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

It’s hard to see your own face without a mirror.

People who consistently win have a clear and thoughtful strategy. They know what they need to do and when they need to do it. They write it down so they stay on course, and avoid any alternative that does not get them closer to the finish line.

And you know, there’s less charm in life when you think about death–but it’s more peaceful.

Let us not forget: I didn’t just wake up First Lady… I mean, I went to law school, I practised law, I worked for the city, I ran a nonprofit (and) I was an executive at a hospital. I’ve been in the world. I’ve worked in every sector, and you don’t do that without coming up against some stuff. You know, having your feelings hurt, having people say things about you that aren’t true… Life hits you, so over the course of living, you learn how to protect yourself in it. You learn to take in what you need and get rid of the stuff that’s clearly not true.

A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.

We are what and where we are because we have first imagined it.

I know all those people. I have friendly, social, and criminal relations with the whole lot of them.

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

[To Robertson] I think you should move to California. Malibu is paradise. You can always change your mind. Why don’t you just let me put this together? I’ll get you a house in the Malibu Colony.

Everyone faces the challenge of finding meaning to their suffering.

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.