George H. W. Bush

It’s no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one way or another.

For 18 years I have resisted talking about current events. I am not going to start now.

We know what works. Freedom Works. We know what’s right. Freedom is right.

Old guys can still do fun things.

We are not the sum of our possessions.

But let me tell you, this gender thing is history. You’re looking at a guy who sat down with Margaret Thatcher across the table and talked about serious issues.

The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.

All begins with you surrounding yourself with the right people—the good and authentic people—and “unsurrounding” yourself with the wrong people. And we both know there are plenty of wrong people in this world.

Boredom: the desire for desires.

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

You’ve got to teach youngsters the difference between right and wrong, but you shouldn’t try to poke it down their throats. Let them ask the questions and then give them the answers.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

I would rather be healthy alone, then sick with someone else.

I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know.

A mistake is to commit a misunderstanding.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter.

I do not believe that material accumulation is the whole of success, and on the other hand I do not believe that true success ever excludes a sufficient possession of wealth-but wealth as a means, not as an end.

I’m embarrassed to say a good chick flick – I’m an old romantic.

If someone out there doesn’t agree with me, then somewhere a village is missing their idiot.

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

If you can find a way to be truly ambivalent about what people think about you as an artist you’re completely freed up because you just end up doing things that turn you on creatively, and then as a person you really try and drown the noise.