American President

Explore 616 quotes by American Presidents

Experience declares that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the governments of Europe, and to the general prey of the rich on the poor.

Thomas Jefferson

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Topic

Man's cruelty to man Cruelty Man and animals Rich vs. poor

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Colonel Edward Carrington. 16 Jan. 1787.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Col. Edward Carrington, Jan. 16, 1787." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society.

James Madison

Federalist 10

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Topic

Political faction Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 10 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection." Daily Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 10: An extensive republic a remedy for mischiefs of faction.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

A pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction.

James Madison

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Topic

Democracy Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 10

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection." Daily Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 10: An extensive republic a remedy for mischiefs of faction.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

We know that self-government is difficult. We know that no people needs such high traits of character as that people which seeks to govern its affairs aright through the freely expressed will of the freemen who compose it.

Theodore Roosevelt

Second Inaugural Address of Theodore Roosevelt

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Topic

Self-government Morality and democracy

Speaker

Theodore Roosevelt

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1905 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1905, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

And even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and liberties of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them. In short, the flames kindled on the fourth of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.

Thomas Jefferson

Letter to John Adams, 1821

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Topic

Declaration of Independence Spread of freedom and democracy

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Source

Letter to John Adams, 1821 Letters of Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1821 1820s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to John Adams. 12 Sept. 1821.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "John Adams, Sept. 12, 1821." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

John F. Kennedy

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Topic

Rich vs. poor Economic inequality

Speaker

John F. Kennedy

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1961 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Kennedy, John F. "Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1961, US Capitol Building, East Portico, Washington, DC, USA.

We are determined to make every American citizen the subject of his country's interest and concern; and we will never regard any faithful, law-abiding group within our borders as superfluous. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Second Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Topic

Political progress

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1937 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1937, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Second Inaugral Address: Washington, DC, January 20, 1937." Great Speeches, edited by John Grafton. Dover, 1999.

What a century it has been. America became the world's mightiest industrial power, saved the world from tyranny in two World Wars and a long Cold War, and time and again reached out across the globe to millions who, like us, longed for the blessings of liberty.

Bill Clinton

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton

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Topic

20th century America and the world

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1997 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, William J. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1997, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, cannot long retain it.

Abraham Lincoln

Read the full text of this letter at umich.edu

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Topic

Freedom Equality

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Letters of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1859 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to Henry L. Pierce and Others. 6 Apr. 1859.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "To Henry L. Pierce and Others, April 6, 1859." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

Barack Obama

First Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

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Topic

American government

Speaker

Barack Obama

Source

First Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2009 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Obama, Barack. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 2009, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

At the dawn of the 21st century, a free people must now choose to shape the forces of the information age and the global society, to unleash the limitless potential of all our people, and yes, to form a more perfect Union.

Bill Clinton

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton

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Topic

America and the world

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1997 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, William J. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1997, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Lynchings must not be tolerated in a great and civilized country like the United States; courts, not mobs, must execute the penalties of the law.

William McKinley

First Inaugural Address of William McKinley

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Topic

Lynching Jim Crow Rule of law

Speaker

William McKinley

Source

First Inaugural Address of William McKinley Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1897 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

McKinley, William. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1897, Front of original Senate Wing, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.

Donald Trump

Inaugural Address of Donald Trump

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Topic

American politics

Speaker

Donald Trump

Source

Inaugural Address of Donald Trump Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2017 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Trump, Donald. "Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 2017, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

We need a new Government for a new century, humble enough not to try to solve all our problems for us but strong enough to give us the tools to solve our problems for ourselves... The preeminent mission of our new Government is to give all Americans an opportunity, not a guarantee but a real opportunity, to build better lives.

Bill Clinton

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton

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Topic

Role of government

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1997 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, William J. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1997, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

If in other lands it be high treason to compass the death of the king, it shall be counted no less a crime here to strangle our sovereign power and stifle its voice.

James A. Garfield

Inaugural Address of James A. Garfield

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Topic

Voting rights

Speaker

James A. Garfield

Source

Inaugural Address of James A. Garfield Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1881 1880s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Garfield, James A. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1881, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

And now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order.

George H.W. Bush

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Topic

New world order End of history Cold War

Speaker

George H.W. Bush

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1991 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Bush, George H. W. Address before a joint session of Congress. 6 Mar. 1991, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

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

Dwight D. Eisenhower

First Inaugural Address of Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Topic

Nature of progress Progress

Speaker

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Source

First Inaugural Address of Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1953 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Eisenhower, Dwight D. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1953, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments' programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth.

Ronald Reagan

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Topic

Big government Government Political theory

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1964 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "A Time for Choosing." U.S. presidential election campaign. 27 Oct. 1964, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA. TV broadcast.

Once lead this people into war and they will forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance.

Woodrow Wilson

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Topic

World War I

Speaker

Woodrow Wilson

Language

English

Time

1917 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Wilson, Woodrow. Conversation with Frank Irving Cobb before asking Congress to declare war. 2 Apr. 1917.

There can be no equality or opportunity, the first essential of justice in the body politic, if men and women and children be not shielded in their lives, their very vitality, from the consequences of great industrial and social processes which they can not alter, control, or singly cope with.

Woodrow Wilson

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Topic

Equality of opportunity Change

Speaker

Woodrow Wilson

Source

First Inaugural Address of Woodrow Wilson

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1913 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Wilson, Woodrow. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1913, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.