National leader

Explore 818 quotes by National leaders

Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.

Harry Truman

More information about this quote

Topic

Government secrets Political theory Democracy

Speaker

Harry Truman

Language

English

Time

1972 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Truman, Harry S. Quoted in Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, by Merle Miller. Berkley Publishing Corporation, 1973. Originally spoken about the CIA, c. 1972.

No-one would remember the good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.

Margaret Thatcher

More information about this quote

Topic

Good Samaritan Charity

Speaker

Margaret Thatcher

Medium

Interview

Language

English

Time

1980 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Thatcher, Margaret. "TV Interview for London Weekend Television." Weekend World. 6 Jan. 1980, London, England, UK. TV Interview.

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equal—is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall.

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

Equality American ideals American history

Speaker

Barack Obama

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2013 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

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

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

George W. Bush

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

American foreign policy Spread of freedom and democracy

Speaker

George W. Bush

Source

Second Inaugural Address of George W. Bush

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2005 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bush, George W. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 2005, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Having found the bomb we have used it.

Harry Truman

More information about this quote

Topic

Nuclear weapons

Speaker

Harry Truman

Source

Report on the Potsdam Conference (Speech)

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Truman, Harry S. Radio Report to the American People on the Potsdam Conference. 9 Aug. 1945, Washington, DC, USA.

It is to be hoped that the normal balance of executive and legislative authority may be wholly equal, wholly adequate to meet the unprecedented task before us. But it may be that an unprecedented demand and need for undelayed action may call for temporary departure from that normal balance of public procedure.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

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

Separation of powers American politics

Speaker

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Source

First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1933 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1933, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin D. "First Inaugral Address: Washington, DC, March 4, 1933." Great Speeches, edited by John Grafton. Dover, 1999.

I went into the neighborhood in that State in which I was raised, where my mother and only sister were buried, and from which I had been absent about fifteen years. That part of the country is, within itself, as unpoetical as any spot of the earth; but still, seeing it and its objects and inhabitants aroused feelings in me which were certainly poetry; though whether my expression of those feelings is poetry is quite another question.

Abraham Lincoln

Read the full text of this letter at umich.edu

More information about this quote

Topic

Kentucky Homecoming Home American states

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Letters of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1846 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to Andrew Johnston. 18 Apr. 1846.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "To Andrew Johnston, April 18, 1846." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility—a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

Barack Obama

First 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

Citizen and state

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.

As long as our Government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of person and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending.

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

American experiment American politics

Speaker

Andrew Jackson

Source

First Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1833 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

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

I would respect the rights of all nations, demanding equal respect for our own. If others depart from this rule in their dealings with us, we may be compelled to follow their precedent.

Ulysses S. Grant

First Inaugural Address of Ulysses S. Grant

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

Non-intervention Reciprocity in politics

Speaker

Ulysses S. Grant

Source

First Inaugural Address of Ulysses S. Grant Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1869 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Grant, Ulysses S. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1869, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Our greatest strength is the power of our ideas, which are still new in many lands. Across the world we see them embraced, and we rejoice. Our hopes, our hearts, our hands are with those on every continent who are building democracy and freedom. Their cause is America's cause.

Bill Clinton

First Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton

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

Spread of freedom and democracy Power of ideas Freedom

Speaker

Bill Clinton

Source

First Inaugural Address of Bill Clinton Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1993 1990s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Clinton, William J. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1993, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse, and in a Republican Government a greater than in any other.

James Madison

More information about this quote

Topic

National debt

Author

James Madison

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1790 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Madison, James. Letter to Henry Lee. 13 April 1790.

Our democratic faith is more than the creed of our country, it is the inborn hope of our humanity, an ideal we carry but do not own, a trust we bear and pass along. And even after nearly 225 years, we have a long way yet to travel.

George W. Bush

First Inaugural Address of George W. Bush

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

Democracy American ideals

Speaker

George W. Bush

Source

First Inaugural Address of George W. Bush Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2001 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bush, George W. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 2001, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

The secret of success is constancy of purpose.

Benjamin Disraeli

More information about this quote

Topic

Success Singlemindedness Persistence

Speaker

Benjamin Disraeli

Source

Speeches of Benjamin Disraeli

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1872 1870s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Disraeli, Benjamin. Speech in London. National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations. 24 June 1872, Crystal Palace, London, England, UK.

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.

George W. Bush

Second Inaugural Address of George W. Bush

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

Spread of freedom and democracy American foreign policy Political theory

Speaker

George W. Bush

Source

Second Inaugural Address of George W. Bush Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

2005 2000s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bush, George W. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 2005, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow citizens wherever they may then be as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do farther recommend to my fellow citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of events for a turn of the inestimable blessings of Peace, Union and Harmony throughout the land, which it has pleased him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.

Abraham Lincoln

Buy Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings at Amazon Buy Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings at Amazon
Read the full text of this letter at umich.edu

More information about this quote

Topic

Thanksgiving Holidays

Speaker

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1864 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Proclamation of Thanksgiving." 20 Oct. 1864.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Proclamation of Thanksgiving, October 20, 1864." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning.

Benjamin Disraeli

More information about this quote

Topic

Purpose of the university

Speaker

Benjamin Disraeli

Source

Speeches of Benjamin Disraeli

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1873 1870s 19th century

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Disraeli, Benjamin. Adjourned debate on Bill 55. House of Commons. 11 Mar. 1873, The Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.

The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.

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

Republic vs. democracy 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.

From the experience of the past we derive instructive lessons for the future.

John Quincy Adams

Inaugural Address of John Quincy Adams

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

Learning from the past

Speaker

John Quincy Adams

Source

Inaugural Address of John Quincy Adams Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1825 1820s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Adams, John Quincy. "Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1825, House Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destory slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.

Abraham Lincoln

More information about this quote

Topic

American Civil War

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Letters of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1862 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to Horace Greeley. 22 Aug. 1862.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "To Horace Greeley, August 22 1862." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.