Top 10 Greatest Quips from Ronald Reagan

Human Events ^ | 1/20/05

[rhema]

10. "Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." —Remarks at a business conference, Los Angeles, March 2, 1977

9. "You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans." —The Observer, March 29, 1981

8. “Thomas Jefferson once said, "We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying." —Circa 1988

7. "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting." —Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989

6. "How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin." —Remarks in Arlington, Virginia, September 25, 1987

5. "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." —Remarks to the White House Conference on Small Business, August 15, 1986

4. “I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.” —Said often during his presidency, 1981-1989

3. "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." —Farewell Address to the Nation, The White House, January 11, 1989

2. "I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born." —The New York Times, September 22, 1980

1. "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." — First Inaugural Address, January 21, 1981

[Minuteman23]

BTTT!

There will never be another like him.

[stockstrader]

I couldn't agree more. As was alluded to in his comment,,,, "No government in the history of civilization has ever voluntarity reduced it size",,,,Ronald Reagan repeatedly cited and highlighted the dangers of big government--regardless of its good intent at the time.

[eleni121]

I have nothing to say to you other than to thank you for your service to our nation and its people.

[spanalot]

I vote for #1

[P.O.E.]

"An economist is someone who sees something that works in
practice and wonders if it would work in theory"

[Pagey]

bttt

[traviskicks]

Quote compilations from Reagan:

http://www.neoperspectives.com/RonaldReagan.htm

Favorites:

If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism.

We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.

History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.

The fact is, what they called "radical" was really "right". What they called "dangerous" was just "desperately needed".

I suggest to you there is no left or right, only an up or down. Up to the maximum of individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism; and regardless of their humanitarian purpose those who would sacrifice freedom for security have, whether they know it or not, chosen this downward path.

Yet any time you and I question the schemes of the do-gooders, we're denounced as being opposed to their humanitarian goals. It seems impossible to legitimately debate their solutions with the assumption that all of us share the desire to help the less fortunate. They tell us we're always "against," never "for" anything.

[dbandit]

AUTHOR:Ronald Reagan, 40th US President

QUOTATION:These young Americans sent a message to terrorists everywhere … “You can run but you can’t hide.”

ATTRIBUTION: On US pilots who captured four terrorists who had hijacked a ship in the Mediterranean, paraphrasing Joe Louis’s 1946 comment, press conference 11 Oct 85

http://www.bartleby.com/63/44/344.html

[E Rocc]

"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."

This was originally said by Robert Woodruff, the founder of Coca-Cola. But President Reagan had it on his desk and probably lived it better than anyone ever.

-Eric

[luvreagan]

God, I miss Ronald Reagan!!

"Recession is when your neighbor looses his job. Depression is when you loose your job. Recovery is when Jimmy carter looses HIS job." - Ronald Reagan

[seamusnh]

"I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."
That is great; hadn't heard it before.

For an interesting take on Reagan read Standing with History by Joseph Petro. It is about his career with the Secret Service including when he protected Reagan. Excellent.

[rockthecasbah]

bookmark.

[rockthecasbah]

bookmark

[jan in Colorado]

"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have."
Ronald Reagan

[eleni121]

I'm definetly not a Bush hater but I just think he's underachieved in certain areas.
......................................................
Could it be maybe that we are fighting a war on terror? Just maybe perhaps this President is fighting too with the entrenched Left in his own nation? Even in his own party?

Sure Bush has compromised...Reagan did too. I'm sure you know why. Even with a majority...there are turncoats...those who will not vote for ANWR for example. Those who will not vote for educational reform unless lots of the junk in it is approved by Teddy...ad nauseum. He doesn't control what the Supreme Court rules...on eminent domain or on infanticide.

[luvreagan]

I met Ronald Reagan in 1980 while he was campaigning in St. Louis on the waterfront under the arch. I was a rabid Reaganite even then. In fact, I consider myself lucky to have appreciated Ronald Reagan from the very beginning. Anyway he had just finished giving his speech and I figured out where he would have to exit. As he was leaving, I shouted, "God Bless you Governor Reagan!! He stopped in his tracks, turned, and with a glint in his eyes smiled at me. He grabbed my shoulder with his left hand and took my right hand in his and with an incredibly vigorous and firm hand shake shook my hand and said, "We're going to need a lot of His help to win this one." I said to him again, "Good luck sir and God Bless you."

I'll never forget that moment for the rest of my life. A tiny sliver in time, but do I ever consider myself fortunate.

Many years later, at a wedding I met his national security advisor, William Clark. I told Mr. Clark it was an honor to meet him and that he was fortunate to have been part of one of the greatest if not THE greatest administration in US history. Clark, a quiet humble man, agreed that he was indeed fortunate.

[Great Communicator]

bookmarking

[rhema]

Great vignette (not to mention screen name!); thanks for posting it. Welcome to FR, luvreagan.

[rhema]

bookmarking

It has turned into a great thread to bookmark. I've just finished reading all the responses; I'll reserve some more time in the near future to listen to the soundbites.

A belated (10 days after your entry) welcome to FR. The more Reagan-related screen names we have, the better!

[cvq3842]

Bookmarked! Thanks.