I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them.
Over the years, many Americans have made sacrifices in order to promote freedom and human rights around the globe: the heroic actions of our veterans, the lifesaving work of our scientists and physicians, and generosity of countless individuals who voluntarily give of their time, talents, and energy to help others-all have enriched humankind and affirmed the importance of our Judeo-Christian heritage in shaping our government and values.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the sacrifices and contributions of individuals in promoting freedom and human rights through various professions and personal efforts.
George H. W. Bush's quote reflects on the collective sacrifices made by Americans in the pursuit of freedom and human rights. He acknowledges the brave actions of veterans, the critical contributions of scientists and physicians, and the altruism of everyday citizens who dedicate their time and skills to help others. The quote conveys a message about the significance of these efforts in enriching humanity and highlights how such actions are rooted in the values derived from the Judeo-Christian heritage, which have played a vital role in shaping American government and societal values.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about community service, one could quote this to highlight the importance of individual contributions.
More from George H. W. Bush
All quotes βOne 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.
Similar quotes
How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race? I mean how many years does it take people to see that? We're all in this rat race together!
Homeboy Industries has chosen to stand with the 'demonized' so that the demonizing will stop; it stands with the 'disposable' so that the day will come when we stop throwing people away.
The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.
If we believe that a person seeking refuge is to be pitied, feared, despised, and looked down upon, we are doing ourselves a disservice.
No one should have to go to bed hungry. It really is a moral issue that we believe the Security Council has to pay attention to. It's about international peace and security.
Human beings are complicated and flawed and unique, but we all have a story to tell. Gone are the days where our lead characters can only look like somebody else. Heroes look like all of us. We see ourselves in each others' stories. We see who we are. We see who we want to be. Sometimes we see who we don't want to be. And through that we have a greater understanding of ourselves and acceptance of each other.