Bill Clinton - People Quotes

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More than any other nation on Earth, America has constantly drawn strength and spirit from wave after wave of immigrants. In each generation, they have proved to be the most restless, the most adventurous, the most innovative, the most industrious of people. Bearing different memories, honoring different heritages, they have strengthened our economy, enriched our culture, renewed our promise of freedom and opportunity for all....

Bill Clinton
The American people have spoken—but it's going to take a little while to determine exactly what they said.
On the US presidential election

Bill Clinton
Today, I want to talk about Social Security and how all of us can ensure that one of the greatest achievements of this century continues to serve our people well into the next.... For 60 years, Social Security has meant more than an ID number on a tax form; more than a monthly check in the mail. It reflects our deepest values - our respect fr our parents and our belief that all Americans deserve to retire with dignity.

Bill Clinton
We must scale the walls of the people's skepticism, not with our words but with our deeds.

Bill Clinton
Mr. President, you are not leading this Nation — you're just managing the Government. You don't see the people enough any more. Some of your Cabinet members don't seem loyal. There is not enough discipline among your disciples. Don't talk to us about politics or the mechanics of government, but about an understanding of our common good. Mr. President, we're in trouble. Talk to us about blood and sweat and tears. If you lead, Mr. President, we will follow.

Bill Clinton
We need a steady stream of cash. The American people have been uncommonly generous.

Bill Clinton
What we have to do now is not to forget these people and places when all the cameras are not there. I think that's the most important message I can say to the American people right now.

Bill Clinton
Secretary-General Annan spoke for all of us... when he said that ethnic cleansers and mass murderers can find no refuge in the United Nations, no source of comfort or justification in its charter. We must do more to make these words real. Of course, we must approach this challenge with some considerable degree of humility. It is easy to say, "Never again," but much harder to make it so. Promising too much can be as cruel as caring too little. But difficulties, dangers, and costs are not an argument for doing nothing. When we are faced with deliberate, organized campaigns to murder whole peoples or expel them from their land, the care of victims is important but not enough. We should work to end the violence.

Bill Clinton
[Iraq is] not Vietnam, we have a government that has a support of the majority of the people.

Bill Clinton
Being president is like running a cemetery; you've got a lot of people under you and nobody's listening.

Bill Clinton
Most illegal immigrants are not by nature lawbreakers. Most are looking for the chance to live in dignity. Nevertheless we must continue to discourage illegal immigration for it undermines control of our borders...and even more punishes hard-working people who play by the rules and who wait for their turn to come to the United States. Therefore we must enforce our laws, but we will do so with justice and fairness.

Bill Clinton
I learned a lot from the stories my uncle, aunts, and grandparents told me: that no one is perfect but most people are good; that people can't be judged only by their worst or weakest moments; that harsh judgements make hypocrites of us all; that a lot of life is just showing up and hanging on; that laughter is often the best, and sometimes only response to pain.

Bill Clinton
We need to help younger people recognize their own capacity to do good, and help them discover the rewards of generosity.

Bill Clinton