Point to Ponder:
What president can you learn from?
by Neissa Brown Springmann
It’s no secret that I am a quote junkie. Besides a story of hope, perseverance and courage, there’s nothing that gets me more fired up and inspired than a good quote or a book of quotes!
Tomorrow, February 20th is President’s Day, a national holiday. Originally, President’s Day was founded in honor of George Washington’s birthday (his birthday is February 22), however it has since morphed into a day to celebrate all United States presidents. Unfortunately though, as most national holidays have become, President’s Day is overshadowed by commercial sales and the opportunity to enjoy a three day weekend. None of these are wrong, as a sale and three consecutive days off are glorious, however the opportunity to truly observe the day for it’s primary focus has become diluted, overlooked, and even obsolete.
In an effort to bring attention to and honor our nation’s presidents and absorb their wisdom and inspiration, I’ve created a top 25 United States President’s quotes list. My personal favorite president is Abraham Lincoln. In fact, if he were alive I’d volunteer to be his full time protege! His integrity, wisdom, courage and love for family and country is awe-inspiring, so you will see a few extra quotes from him.
Therefore, without further adieu, I hope you enjoy the words of wisdom from our nation’s presidents, all of whom were not perfect (who is, right?!), however their service and wisdom are commendable and worthy of pause, reflection and great gratitude.
“Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.” –George Washington
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book wisdom.” -Thomas Jefferson
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air. ” -John Quincy Adams
“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight–it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Great lives never go out, they go on.” -Benjamin Harrison
“I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” -Abraham Lincoln
“If wrinkles must be written on our brow, let them not be written on our heart. The spirit should never grow old.” -James Garfield
“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” -Abraham Lincoln
“The harder the conflict the greater the triumph.” –George Washington
“Try and fail but don’t fail to try.” -John Quincy Adams
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorns bushes have roses.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Be patient and calm. No one can catch a fish with anger.” -Herbert Hoover
“It’s amazing what can get accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.” -Harry S. Truman
“Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” –Abraham Lincoln
“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.” -John F. Kennedy
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” -Ronald Reagan
“If you look for the bad in people and expect to find it, you surely will.” -Abraham Lincoln
“If your going to think anything, think big.” -Donald Trump
“The best way not to feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope and you will fill you with hope.” -Barack Obama
“Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our purposes, not to make a great show in the world, or a name. There is but one just use of power and that is to serve people.” -George W. Bush
“In the end, it’s not the years in the life that count. It’s the life in the years.” -Abraham Lincoln
“If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is to never quit, never quit, never quit.” -William J. Clinton
“We are a nation of communities….a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.” -George H. W. Bush
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