Ronald Reagan Quotes

The government can give citizens opportunity and it's their responsibility to take advantage of it.

In our own lives, let each of us ask — not just what will government do for me, but what can I do for myself? In the challenges we face together, let each of us ask —not just how can government help, but how can I help?

No, our greatness does not come from our government.

The role of government is to steer us in the right direction, not do all the work for us.

People still seem to think that they should vote themselves money. They seem to think there is stuff which they think is the government's job, when it's really the individual's job.

Dependency is death to initiative, to risk-taking and opportunity. It's time to stop the spread of government dependency and fight it like the poison it is.

Before, Indian people had been so defeated, they were always looking for outsiders, for the government, to somehow come in and fix things. But now, they seem to realize that they're the only ones who can save themselves.

Citizens who over-rely on their government to do everything not only become dependent on their government, they end up having to do whatever the government demands. In the meantime, their initiative and self-respect are destroyed.

We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another.

Government is to point you in the right direction, and not to do everything for you.

As far as your personal goals are and what you actually want to do with your life, it should never have to do with the government. You should never depend on the government for your retirement, your financial security, for anything.

The government doesn't have to solve everyone's problem here.

People are probably going to realize they can live with a lot less government than what they thought they needed.

A lot of people have a sense-of-entitlement mentality that somebody else ought to do these things for them. People are mad at the government for not getting jobs for them. I don't understand why it's the government's responsibility.

Sometimes people need a kick in the pants to get them to do what they would be doing if government weren't there as a perpetual parent.

As far as your personal goals are and what you actually want to do with your life, it should never have to do with the government. You should never depend on the government for your retirement, your financial security, for anything. If you do, you're screwed.

The average Nigerian person has come to reconcile himself with the fact that his or her social progress remain essentially in his or her hands in collaboration with other fellow Nigerians and not merely relying on what government alone could provide for him or her.

When government accepts responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves.

The people of America need personal responsibility and freedom, not dependency on the government.

All communities are apt to look to government for too much ... especially at periods of sudden embarrassment and distress. This ought not to be.

The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men opportunity to work out happiness for themselves.

The expectation of paternal care on the part of Government ... weakens the sturdiness of our national character.

What government is best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.

Government is but A TRUSTEE--for public, not for private purposes. You must trust your own manhood. You must trust your own foresight, and lay up against a rainy day. You must be educated by hardship, if need be. Government did not beget you, and is not responsible for you save against injustice

It's my goal to show the world that Americans know how to help Americans without expecting the government to come riding in on a white horse and save the day.