45 Quotes from Ronald Reagan About Life, Politic, and Government

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Many world leaders are remembered not only for their actions in office, but also for their powerful and timeless words. Strong speeches can give hope, build courage, and guide a nation during hard times. Quotes from Ronald Reagan are often shared for this reason, because his words still connect with people across generations.

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States and served from 1981 to 1989. Before entering politics, he worked as an actor and later became the governor of California. He was known for clear speech and strong confidence. Many quotes from Ronald Reagan show his ideas about freedom, government, and national strength.

In this article, we have gathered some of the most memorable quotes from Ronald Reagan. We gathered them from various sources, Monday (23/2/2026). Keep reading to find the words that have inspired millions of people around the world.

1. “I've heard that hard work never killed anyone, but I say why take the chance?”

2. “You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans. ”

3. "A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation."

4. “We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”

5. “Status quo, you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in'.”

6. “Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.”

7. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

8. “How do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”

9. “How do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”

10. "The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so."

11. "Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."

12. "Latinos are Republican. They just don't know it yet."

13. "It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first."

14. "I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself."

15. "Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man."

1. “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”

2. "There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit."

3. “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”

4. “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.”

5. “I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”

6. “Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver 5 minutes longer.”

7. "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."

8. "When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat."

9. "Trust, but verify."

10. "There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder."

11. "There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right."

12. "We are never defeated unless we give up on God."

13. "The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave."

14. "To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will."

15. “Surround yourself with great people; delegate authority; get out of the way”

1. “We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.”

2. “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

3. “As government expands, liberty contracts.”

4. "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

5. "Either you will control your government, or government will control you."

6. "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives."

7. “Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”

8. “We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.”

9. “Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

10. "We should measure welfare's success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added."

11. "Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."

12. "Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty."

13. "Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing."

14. "Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure."

15. “Government is not a solution to our problem government is the problem.”