American President

Explore 616 quotes by American Presidents

Sort

My Country has in its Wisdom contrived for me, the most insignificant Office that ever the Invention of Man contrived or his Imagination conceived.

John Adams

More information about this quote

Topic

Author

Source

Medium

Language

Time

Era

Authentication Score 0

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Original Citation

Adams, John. Letter to Abigail Adams. 19 Dec. 1793.

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

Current Citation

“John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 December 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-09-02-0278.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.

Armed neutrality is ineffectual enough at best.

Woodrow Wilson

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 3

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Original Citation

Wilson, Woodrow. Address to Congress Requesting a Declaration of War Against Germany. Congress meeting. 2 Apr. 1917, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

Current Citation

Wilson, Woodrow. "Address to a Joint Session of Congress Calling for a Declaration of War." Woodrow Wilson: Essential Writings and Speeches of the Scholar-President, edited by Mario R. DiNunzio. New York University Press, 2006.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results.

James Madison

Federalist 10

Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon

Read Federalist No. 10 at the Library of Congress website

More information about this quote

Topic

Author

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Era

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

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.

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

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.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.

In administering the laws of Congress I shall keep steadily in view the limitations as well as the extent of the Executive power, trusting thereby to discharge the functions of my office without transcending its authority.

Andrew Jackson

First Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Jackson, Andrew. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1833, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

We, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class.

Barack Obama

Second Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 3

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Obama, Barack. "Second Inaugural Address." 21 Jan. 2013, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

Each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others.

James Madison

Federalist 51

Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon Buy The Federalist Papers at Amazon

Read Federalist No. 51 at the Library of Congress website

More information about this quote

Topic

Author

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Era

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.

The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.

Barack Obama

Second Inaugural Address of Barack Obama

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 3

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Obama, Barack. "Second Inaugural Address." 21 Jan. 2013, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.

Donald Trump

Inaugural Address of Donald Trump

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 3

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

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

Citation text copied to clipboard.

Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father and to tear the character of his own and his children's liberty.

Abraham Lincoln

Read the full text of this speech at umich.edu

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions." 27 Jan. 1838, Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, IL, USA.

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, January 27, 1838." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.

The progress of our settlements westward, supported as they are by a dense population, has constantly driven them back, with almost the total sacrifice of the lands which they have been compelled to abandon.

James Monroe

Second Inaugural Address of James Monroe

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Monroe, James. "Second Inaugural Address." 5 Mar. 1821, House Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

To render the war short and its success sure, animated and systematic exertions alone are necessary, and the success of our arms now may long preserve our country from the necessity of another resort to them.

James Madison

Second Inaugural Address of James Madison

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Madison, James. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1813, House Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser—in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.

Abraham Lincoln

More information about this quote

Topic

Author

Source

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Fragment: Notes for a Law Lecture." 1 July 1850?

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Notes on the Practice of Law, 1850?" Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.

I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.

Ronald Reagan

1984 Presidential Debates

There are no other quotes from this source in the Bon Mots database.

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Statement Type

Language

Time

Authentication Score 0

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "The Second Reagan-Mondale Presidential Debate." 21 Oct. 1984, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO, USA. Presidential debate.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

There is no part of the means placed in the hands of the Executive which might be used with greater effect for unhallowed purposes than the control of the public press.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

But there is still an undercurrent at work by which, if not seasonably checked, the worst apprehensions of our antifederal patriots will be realized, and not only will the State authorities be overshadowed by the great increase of power in the executive department of the General Government, but the character of that Government, if not its designation, be essentially and radically changed.

William Henry Harrison

Inaugural Address of William Henry Harrison

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Harrison, William Henry. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1841, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

While he executes the laws with an impartial hand, shrinks from no proper responsibility, and faithfully carries out in the executive department of the Government the principles and policy of those who have chosen him, he should not be unmindful that our fellow-citizens who have differed with him in opinion are entitled to the full and free exercise of their opinions and judgments, and that the rights of all are entitled to respect and regard.

James K. Polk

Inaugural Address of James K. Polk

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 2

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Polk, James K. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1845, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

Almost a year ago, in company with 16 free nations of Europe, we launched the greatest cooperative economic program in history. The purpose of that unprecedented effort is to invigorate and strengthen democracy in Europe, so that the free people of that continent can resume their rightful place in the forefront of civilization and can contribute once more to the security and welfare of the world.

Harry Truman

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon

Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Speaker

Source

Medium

Genre

Language

Time

Authentication Score 3

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Citation

Truman, Harry S. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1949, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Citation text copied to clipboard.

I hope you will not have a building of any kind, not a summer cottage, a hotel or anything else, to mar the wonderful grandeur, sublimity, the great loneliness and beauty of the canyon. Leave it as it is.

Theodore Roosevelt

More information about this quote

Topic

Author

Medium

Language

Time

Authentication Score 3

More information on Authentication Score coming soon.

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr. Speech at the Grand Canyon. 6 May 1903, The Grand Canyon, AZ, USA.

Original citation text copied to clipboard.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr. "The Natural Wonder of the Grand Canyon." Great Speeches of the 20th Century, edited by Bob Blaisdell. Dover Publications, 2011.

Current citation text copied to clipboard.