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.

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• So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

  John F. Kennedy

  Weakness, Sides, Remember

  Inaugural Address, delivered 20 January 1961

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• Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace.

  John F. Kennedy

  Peace, War, Torches

  Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

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• Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, Honesty, War

  First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1801

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• the better angels of our nature

  Abraham Lincoln

  Angel, Civil War, Apocalypse

  First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1861

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• A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Wise, Wisdom, Men

  Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.65, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• We won't apologise for our way of life, nor will we weaver in its defence, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken, you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

  Barack Obama

  Broken, Stronger, Way

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• The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Divine Revelation, Judgment, Lord

  Second Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1865

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• 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

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• We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity.

  Barack Obama

  Believe, People, Pro Life

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

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• In the field of world policy; I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor.

  Franklin D. Roosevelt

  Presidential, Fields, World

  First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1933. According to Hans Sperber and Travis Trittschuh, American Political Terms: An Historical Dictionary, Herbert Hoover prominently used the term "good neighbor" during his tour of South America after the 1928 presidential election.

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• 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.

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• 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

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• I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."

  Abraham Lincoln

  Believe, Purpose, Slavery

  Abraham Lincoln (2008). “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln”, p.250, Wildside Press LLC

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• 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

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• 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

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• To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

  Barack Obama

  Hands, Deceit, Fists

  First Presidential Inaugural Address, Delivered 20 January 2009

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• We will respond to the threat of climate change

  Barack Obama

  Climate, Threat, Inauguration

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

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• 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

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

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Shirk, Duty, Inaugural Address

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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