“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.”

I made two mistakes and both of them are sitting on the Supreme Court. [Referring to Earl Warren and William Brennan]

What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.

The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions.

I don’t like the idea of something where you have to depend upon the integrity of the man and not the integrity of the institution.

Never let yourself be persuaded that any one Great Man, any one leader, is necessary to the salvation of America. When America consists of one leader and 158 million followers, it will no longer be America.

Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame! you give love, a bad name.

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.

True delegation implies the courage and readiness to back up a subordinate to the full; it is not to be confused with the slovenly practice of merely ignoring an unpleasant situation in the hope that someone else will handle it.

It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.

Pessimism never won any battle.

I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of the way and let them have it.

There’s no tragedy in life like the death of a child. Things never get back to the way they were.

Only Americans can hurt America.

Never send a battalion to take a hill if a regiment is available.

How far have we come in man’s long pilgrimage from darkness toward light? Are we nearing the light—a day of freedom and of peace for all mankind? Or are the shadows of another night closing in upon us?

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone.

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like?

We believe in individual initiative, personal responsibility, opportunity, freedom, small government, the Constitution. These principles, these American principles are key to getting our economy back to being successful and leading the world.

Bill [Gates] and I believe philanthropy can only be effective if it starts things and proves whether they actually work or not. That’s the place that governments often don’t want to, or can’t, work.

I firmly believe you’re never supposed to wish for more than you’re willing to work for. Expectations should never exceed your effort.

Believe me, it is actions that count.

I have no regrets. If you regret things, you’re sort of stepping backwards. I’m a believer in going forwards.

Ninety-nine percent of people believe they can’t do great things, so they aim for mediocrity.

Focus on impact, not approval. If you believe you can change the world, which I hope you do, do what you believe is right and expect resistance and expect attackers. Keep calm and carry on!