Inaugural Quotes

• The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained...

  George Washington

  Order, Heaven, Addresses

  George Washington's Inaugural Address, www.archives.gov. April 30, 1789.

  50 Copy quote

  Show source

• On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

  Barack Obama

  Unity, Purpose, Conflict

  First Presidential Inaugural Address, Delivered 20 January 2009

  2 Copy quote

  Show source

• There exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity; since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

  George Washington

  Order, Heaven, Unions

  First Inaugural Address on April 30, 1789. "The Writings of George Washington", edited by John C. Fitzpatrick, Volume 30, pp. 294-295,

  48 Copy quote

  Show source

• 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. This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

  Barack Obama

  Character, Responsibility, Giving

  First Presidential Inaugural Address, Delivered 20 January 2009

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation', a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.

  John F. Kennedy

  War, Struggle, Twilight

  Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961. The words in quotation marks are from the Bible, Romans 12:12.

  66 Copy quote

  Show source

• We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.

  Barack Obama

  Children, Powerful, Believe

  Second Presidential Inaugural Address, delivered 21 January 2013, Washington, D.C.

  12 Copy quote

  Show source

• If there be any among us who wish to dissolve the Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed, as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Change, Errors, Safety

  First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1801

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking his blessing and his help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

  John F. Kennedy

  Love, Blessing, Land

  Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

  11 Copy quote

  Show source

• Take not from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, Libertarian Party, Democracies Have

  20 Copy quote

• The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century... unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today.

  John F. Kennedy

  Gay, Rights, Today

  Inaugural address, 20 Jan. 1961, in Vital Speeches 1 Feb. 1961, p. 226

  3 Copy quote

  Show source

• Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.

  Abraham Lincoln

  War, Party, Acceptance

  Second Inaugural Address, delivered 4 March 1865

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside

  John F. Kennedy

  Power, Best Effort, Riding

  Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1961

  35 Copy quote

  Show source

• So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof

  John F. Kennedy

  Weakness, Sides, Remember

  Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1961

  15 Copy quote

  Show source

• It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

  Barack Obama

  Jobs, Children, Kindness

  First Presidential Inaugural Address, Delivered 20 January 2009

  5 Copy quote

  Show source

• We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations

  Barack Obama

  Children, Knowing, Generations

  Second Presidential Inaugural Address, delivered 21 January 2013, Washington, D.C.

  15 Copy quote

  Show source

• Let it be said to our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we didn't turn our back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

  Barack Obama

  Children, Eye, Journey

  First Presidential Inaugural Address, Delivered 20 January 2009

  3 Copy quote

  Show source

• We are provincials no longer. The tragic events of the 30 months of vital turmoil through which we have just passed have made us citizens of the world. There can be no turning back.

  Woodrow Wilson

  Months, Events, Citizens

  2 Copy quote

• We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Shirk, Duty, Inaugural Address

  4 Copy quote

• The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether government works.

  Barack Obama

  Government, Today, Bigs

  Barack Obama (2009). “The Inaugural Address, 2009: Together with Abraham Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses and The Gettysburg Address and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance”, p.11, Penguin

  3 Copy quote

  Show source

• The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring this endeavor will light our bounty and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

  Kennedy

  Fire, Light, Vision

  3 Copy quote

• United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do-for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and
  split asunder.

  John F. Kennedy

  Powerful, Odds, Challenges

  Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1961

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• I am told that tens of thousands of prayer meetings are being held on this day; for that I am deeply grateful. We are a nation under God, and I believe God intended for us to be free. It would be fitting and good, I think, if on each inaugural day in future years it should be declared a day of prayer.

  Ronald Reagan

  Prayer, Believe, Grateful

  First Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1981

  16 Copy quote

  Show source

• For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

  John F. Kennedy

  Doubt, Arms, Certain

  Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1961

  2 Copy quote

  Show source

• Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded, then, is a return to these truths.

  Barack Obama

  Loyalty, Honesty, Hard Work

  First Presidential Inaugural Address, Delivered 20 January 2009

  9 Copy quote

  Show source

• Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shrink neither.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Presidential, Given, Duty

  Theodore Roosevelt's address to the nation (March 4, 1905), as quoted in "Ten Memorable Inaugural Addresses", www.realclearpolitics.com. January 16, 2013.

  2 Copy quote

  Show source