George H. W. Bush

Poland should be strong and prosperous and independent and play its proper role as a great nation in the heart of Europe.

We are not the sum of our possessions.

It’s a very good question, very direct, and I’m not going to answer it.

You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn’t.

The glory of being a carrier pilot has certainly worn off.

We can realise a lasting peace and transform the East-West relationship to one of enduring co-operation.

To be good is not enough; a man must be good for something.

How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will.

Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.

I don’t like when there’s too much conversation because I’m shy and it makes me uncomfortable.

You are mine, and that means I am on your side even when no one else is.

My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of the pessimists.

The philosophy of life indicates that our principal business on this planet is the gaining of experience.

I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.

It’s so much easier to tell people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.

If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.

Whatever it is, people who have more spare time than people ever had before get the sense of whirlwind pressure,and repeat the common criticism that ‘we are going too fast.’ Yet the people live longer than ever before, live with less effort, live on a higher plane. Is it possible that this common saying about our rapid pace is just another thoughtless mob suggestion?

There’s no limit to the things you can do.

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