“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”Ronald Reagan
FreedomBerlin Wall
Ronald Reagan Quotes
American - President & Actor|February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004
50 FAMOUS QUOTES · PRESIDENT & ACTOR
Ronald Reagan Quotes
Read 50 Ronald Reagan quotes on freedom, peace, courage, leadership and America, plus his famous wit, from the 40th President of the United States.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”Ronald Reagan
FreedomResponsibility
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.”Ronald Reagan
DestinyA Time For Choosing
“A people free to choose will always choose peace.”Ronald Reagan
FreedomPeace
“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”Ronald Reagan
PeaceConflict
“Trust, but verify.”Ronald Reagan
TrustDiplomacy
“Above all, we must realise 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.”Ronald Reagan
“Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.”Ronald Reagan
InformationFreedom
“Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.”Ronald Reagan
LibertyPower
“The objective I propose is quite simple to state: to foster the infrastructure of democracy, the system of a free press, unions, political parties, universities, which allows a people to choose their own way.”Ronald Reagan
DemocracyFreedom
“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”Ronald Reagan
GovernmentInaugural Address
“We are a nation that has a government, not the other way around.”Ronald Reagan
GovernmentCitizenship
“The most terrifying words in the English language are: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."Ronald Reagan
GovernmentHumour
“Let us ask ourselves, "What kind of people do we think we are?" And let us answer, "Free people, worthy of freedom and determined not only to remain so but to help others gain their freedom as well."Ronald Reagan
FreedomIdentity
“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.”Ronald Reagan
ProgressPotential
“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”Ronald Reagan
GrowthImagination
“Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.”Ronald Reagan
ProgressYouth
“The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.”Ronald Reagan
“There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.”Ronald Reagan
CourageMorality
“To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last, but eat you he will.”Ronald Reagan
ActionCourage
“Don't be afraid to see what you see.”Ronald Reagan
CourageTruth
“We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”Ronald Reagan
KindnessService
“If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.”Ronald Reagan
PatriotismUnity
“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.”Ronald Reagan
“I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.”Ronald Reagan
HopePurpose
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About Ronald Reagan
American - President & Actor | February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004
Ronald Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American actor and politician, born in Tampico, Illinois. He worked as a radio sports announcer before moving to Hollywood, where he appeared in more than 50 films and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. He later served two terms as Governor of California.
Reagan was the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He survived an assassination attempt in his first year in office, cut taxes, increased military spending and, in his second term, worked with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on a landmark arms-reduction treaty as the Cold War drew to a close. Supporters credit him with restoring national confidence and helping end the Cold War, while critics point to rising deficits, the Iran-Contra affair and his administration's slow response to the AIDS crisis. Known as "the Great Communicator," he was famous for his optimism and humour. Here are 50 Ronald Reagan quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Ronald Reagan and these famous quotes.
Who was Ronald Reagan?
Ronald Reagan was an American actor and politician who served as Governor of California and then as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.
When did Reagan say "Tear down this wall"?
He said it on June 12, 1987, in a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, challenging Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to remove the Berlin Wall. The wall fell in November 1989.
What does "Trust, but verify" mean?
"Trust, but verify" is a Russian proverb that Reagan often used during arms-control talks with the Soviet Union. It means being willing to cooperate while still checking that agreements are kept.
What happened in the 1981 assassination attempt?
On March 30, 1981, Reagan was shot outside a Washington hotel. He recovered after surgery and famously joked to his wife, Nancy, "Honey, I forgot to duck."
What was "Reaganomics"?
"Reaganomics" refers to Reagan's economic policies, including tax cuts, reduced regulation and higher defence spending. Supporters credit them with strong economic growth, while critics argue they increased deficits and inequality.
What was Reagan's farewell letter?
In November 1994 Reagan wrote a letter to the American people revealing that he had Alzheimer's disease, saying he was beginning "the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life." He died in 2004.