I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them.
If I were to give advice to young people, high-achieving young people for example, I’d have to say, don’t neglect your family. Politics is important, sitting at the head table is glamorous. Traveling around the world, trying to do something for world peace was wonderful. But family and friends and faith are what really matter in life. And I know that. I see it so clearly now.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family and relationships over political success and public acclaim.
In a reflective statement, George H. W. Bush shares his belief that while career accomplishments and political engagements can be glamorous and fulfilling, they pale in comparison to the value of family, friends, and faith. He urges young achievers to remember this truth as they navigate their lives, highlighting that true fulfillment stems from maintaining these essential connections rather than solely pursuing fame or recognition. His wisdom underscores a universal priority: the bonds of love and support that family and friends provide.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a graduation speech to encourage young graduates to cherish their relationships.
More from George H. W. Bush
All quotes →One of the good things about the way the Gulf War ended in 1991 is, you'd see the Vietnam veterans marching with the Gulf War veterans.
Communism didn't fall. It was pushed.
The anchor in our world today is freedom, holding us steady in times of change, a symbol of hope to all the world.
It's too much show business and too much prompting, too much artificiality, and not really debates. They're rehearsed appearances.
Appeasement does not work. As was the case in the 1930s, we see in Saddam Hussein an aggressive dictator threatening his neighbors.
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I look back at 1993 or 1994 when I made it to the National Championships, and I was on used skates and handmade or borrowed costumes. But my mom was there every step of the way for me: she was the one traveling with me all over the world at age 13.
And that was the greatest heartbreak of all- no matter how spectacular we want our children to be, no matter how perfect we pretend they are, they are bound to disappoint. As it turns out, kids are more like us than we think: damaged, through and through.