60 Best Presidential Quotes to Celebrate Presidents’ Day

Presidents’ Day, celebrated on the third Monday of every February was originally created to remember George Washington’s birthday. It has since been used to celebrate all presidents of our country. So many huge lessons can be learned from the history of our great nation. We’ve put together a huge list of iconic presidential quotes from American presidents from the past until today. Tell us what your favorite quote is in the comment section below!

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George Washington Quotes

The first president of the United States, George Washington’s legacy is seen every day in our nation, including our dollar bill and our nation’s capital being his namesake. George Washington’s greatest impact can be experienced in the words he left behind:

• “The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.” ― George Washington
• “It is better to be alone than in bad company.” — George Washington
• “Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.” — George Washington
• “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” — George Washington
• “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington

Thomas Jefferson Quotes

The second vice president and third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson was also the primary draftsman of the Declaration of Independence. His words still have meaning today:

• “On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.” ― Thomas Jefferson
• “Honesty is the first chapter of the book wisdom.” ― Thomas Jefferson
• “Never spend your money before you have earned it.” ―Thomas Jefferson
• “Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.” ―Thomas Jefferson
• “He who knows best knows how little he knows.” ―Thomas Jefferson

James Madison Presidential Quotes

The fourth president of the United States, James Madison was a founding father and also has been known as the Father of the Constitution. The author of the Federalist Papers has many great words of wisdom that have been attributed to him:

• “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” ― James Madison
• “If tyranny and oppression come to this land it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” ― James Madison
• “Philosophy is common sense with big words.”― James Madison
• “Equal laws protecting equal rights…the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country.” ― James Madison
• “The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.” ― James Madison

John Quincy Adams Presidential Quotes

John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States who said many inspirational words on democracy, liberty, and leadership. Here are few famous thoughts from John Quincy Adams:

• “Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.” ― John Quincy Adams
• “Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear, and obstacles vanish into air.” ― John Quincy Adams
• “Whoever tells the best story wins.” ― John Quincy Adams
• “May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.” ― John Quincy Adams
• “America is a friend of freedom everywhere, but a custodian only of our own.” ― John Quincy Adams

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Abraham Lincoln Quotes

As the 16^th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln will always be remembered and admired for his leadership during the Civil War and his emancipation of the slaves after the conflict. Here are a few of Abe’s most revered quotes:

• “I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards” ― Abraham Lincoln
• “Whatever you are, be a good one.” ― Abraham Lincoln
• “Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.” ― Abraham Lincoln
• “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years” ― Abraham Lincoln
• “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Quotes

Often called Teddy, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was the 26^th president of the United States. Still the youngest person to become our nation’s president, Teddy Roosevelt is known as a leader of the progressive movement. Some of Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quotes include:

• “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
• “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
• “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
• “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
• “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Quotes

Often referred to as FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32^nd president of the United States. The first president to serve more than 2 terms, he was in office during World War II and started the Social Security Program included in the New Deal. FDR died in office less than 3 months into his 4^th term. Some quotes by FDR include:

• “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Quotes

The 34^th president of the United States, Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, allowing desegregation of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is also known for starting the Interstate Highway System, the largest public works program in U.S. history. 41,000 miles of roads across the country were constructed from this program.

• “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
• “The proudest human that walks the earth is a free American citizen.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower
• “Never question another man’s motive. His wisdom, yes, but not his motives.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower
• “Never waste a minute thinking about people you don’t like.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower
• “Change based on principle is progress. Constant change without principle becomes chaos.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower

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John F. Kennedy Quotes

Often known by his initials JFK, John Fitzgerald Kennedy served as the 35^th president of the United States. He assassinated in 1963, near the end of his 3^rd year in office. Kennedy started the U.S. space program and led the nation during the Cuban missile crisis and asked Congress to create the Peace Corps. Some inspirational JFK quotes are:

• “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” ― John F. Kennedy
• “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” ― John F. Kennedy
• “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” ― John F. Kennedy
• “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” ― John F. Kennedy
• “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.” ― John F. Kennedy

Presidential Quotes for President’s Day

The president of the United States is entrusted with great authority and is perhaps the most powerful elected official in the world. The iconic quotes from these great leaders will forever continue to stand the test of time:

• “Great lives never go out; they go on.” ― Benjamin Harrison
• “A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue” ― James Monroe
• “One man with courage makes a majority.” ― Andrew Jackson
• “It’s easier to do a job right, than to explain why you didn’t.” ― Martin Van Buren
• “If wrinkles must be written on our brow, let them not be written on our heart. The spirit should never grow old.” ― James Garfield
• “Be patient and calm; no one can catch a fish with anger.” ― Herbert Hoover
• “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” ― Harry S. Truman
• “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.” ― Ronald Reagan
• “In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In all things, generosity.”― George H.W. Bush

Recent Presidential Quotes

There are five remaining living past presidents, which include Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Some of these past leaders’ inspirational quotes are below:

• “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” ― Jimmy Carter
• “We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more.” ― Bill Clinton
• “Terrorism against our nation will not stand.” ― George W. Bush
• “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” ― Barack Obama
• “As long as you are going to be thinking anyway, think big.”―Donald Trump
• “Failure at some point in your life is inevitable but giving up is unforgivable.” ― Joe Biden