Quotes by Rick Perry

According to a study by Achieve Incorporated, Texas is the first state to make a college-prep curriculum the standard coursework in high school, starting with this year's ninth grade class.
– Rick Perry
Dark economic clouds are dissipating into an emerging blue sky of opportunity.
– Rick Perry
Democracy functions best when we have an active citizenry.
– Rick Perry
It is a testament to the enduring virtue of our democratic experiment that more than 225 years since the birth of our republic we still decide our destiny as a nation without tanks in the street, or without fear or intimidation, but instead in the sanctity of a voting.
– Rick Perry
Our work is before us. It cannot be passed to future legislatures and must not be passed to future generations. May we boldly seize the moment with singular unity. And may we build a Texas of unlimited possibility.
– Rick Perry
Reforming public education, cutting property taxes, fixing adult and child protective services and funding our budget can all occur when Democrats and Republicans engage in consensus and cooperation - not cynicism and combat.
– Rick Perry
Texas has long been known as the nation's largest energy producer, but we are equally proud of our distinction as the nation's leading energy innovator.
– Rick Perry
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we inhabit are not only critical elements in the quality of life we enjoy - they are a reflection of the majesty of our Creator.
– Rick Perry
The foundation for future prosperity is built on the bedrock of good jobs and great schools. We are building a strong foundation one job at a time and one educated Texan at a time.
– Rick Perry
When our work is done, parents won't measure our success by how much money we spend, but whether more children learn.
– Rick Perry
You got to have a courageous president to stand up and says, listen, if - if you send a bill to me that spends more money than what we've coming in, I'll veto it. I mean, I'm going to try to work with you the best I can, but I'm going to veto it.
– Rick Perry
Who can be against progress, after all? But it's a fraudulent use of the word - because for the Progressive, progress is marked not be how free you are, but how much government can 'do' for you.
– Rick Perry
When the good lord calls you home, the government ought not come get your home.
– Rick Perry
When a criminal breaks into your home I'll let the liberals call the lawyer. I'm going to call Smith & Wesson.
– Rick Perry
What I learned growing up on the farm was a way of life that was centered on hard work, and on faith and on thrift. Those values have stuck with me my whole life.
– Rick Perry
We've got the wind at our back right now. Americans are waking up to the realities of their previous choices. We must keep America moving back to preeminence because our values and conservative ideas are the world's greatest hope.
– Rick Perry
We need to stop apologizing for celebrating life. We need to stop apologizing for wanting to protect an individual's right to build a business.
– Rick Perry
We know there is no such thing as freedom without the risk of failure.
– Rick Perry
We believe in government involvement that leads to independence: good schools, quality roads and the best health care.
– Rick Perry
This administration in Washington that's in power now clearly believes that government is not only the answer to every need, but it's the most qualified to make the most central decisions for every American in every area.
– Rick Perry
The liberals think government exists to fix what's wrong with America. They find fault with our Constitution, our economic model and our core values. We disagree with the premise of their argument. We believe there's nothing wrong with America that an extra dose of freedom won't cure.
– Rick Perry
The God we serve does not seek out the perfect, but instead uses our imperfections and our shortcomings for his greater good. I am humbled by my own limitations. But where I am weak, He is strong.
– Rick Perry
The fact is there is forgiveness for those who seek God. And I believe in the power of redemption.
– Rick Perry
Tell the trial lawyers to get out of your state and to quit costing businessmen and women.
– Rick Perry
Somebody has to tell the E.P.A. that we don't need you monkeying around and fiddling around and getting in our business with every kind of regulation you can dream up. You're doing nothing more than killing jobs. It's a cemetery for jobs at the E.P.A.
– Rick Perry
President Obama's call for nearly a half-trillion dollars in more government stimulus when America has more than $14 trillion in debt is guided by his mistaken belief that we can spend our way to prosperity.
– Rick Perry
Our shared conservative values, our belief in the individual is the great hope of our nation.
– Rick Perry
Our goal is to displace the entrenched powers in Washington, restore the rightful balance between the state and federal government.
– Rick Perry
Our citizens are tired of big government raising their taxes and cooking up new ways to micromanage their lives, our citizens are tired of big government killing jobs with their do-gooder policies. In short the people are Fed Up!
– Rick Perry
Obamacare has got everyone on edge. I mean, small business - men and women or big business are sitting out there saying we have no idea what this is going to cost, but we know it's going to cost us and cost us a lot.
– Rick Perry
My hope is that that person will come forward that can win the presidency that we can all get behind.
– Rick Perry
My deal is have a flat, simple tax. And - Americans want - Americans I hope - aspire to be - be wealthy. I hope they aspire to have a better quality of life. And we have this class warfare that's going on now. And I don't agree with that. I'm interested in people getting to work.
– Rick Perry
It is time to change our policy of appeasement toward the Palestinians, to strengthen our ties with the nation of Israel.
– Rick Perry
It is through states that the American people get the job done every day, often in spite of a deeply flawed bureaucratic federal government.
– Rick Perry
In the rush to become all things to all people, the federal government has lost sight of its core responsibilities. As a result we're stuck in this frustrating paradox where Washington actually neglects things it's clearly supposed to be doing, while interfering in other areas where they are neither welcome nor authorized.
– Rick Perry
In Michigan, a liberal democrat raised taxes and kept their government programs at the same level. And guess what? Their economy continued into the toilet, it continued down.
– Rick Perry
I'm worried about that man or woman sitting around - the coffee table tonight or in their kitchen talking about how are we going to get to work. How are we going to have the dignity to take care of our family.
– Rick Perry
I stand before you as the governor of Texas but also stand before you the son of two tenant farmers. Ray Perry who came home after 35 bombing missions over Europe to work his little corner of land out there and Amelia who made sure that my sister Milla and I had everything that we needed, included hand sewing my clothes until I went off to college.
– Rick Perry
I mean, Dodd-Frank is strangling small community banks. It doesn't make any difference what the interest rate is. They're not - they're not going to loan the money because they can't make any money for one thing plus the cost of compliance.
– Rick Perry
I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.
– Rick Perry
I got all the respect in the world for the front-runners in this race, but ask yourself: If we replace a Democratic insider with a Republican insider, you think we're really going to change Washington, D.C.? You don't have to settle for Washington and Wall Street insiders who supported the Wall Street bailout and the Obamacare individual mandate.
– Rick Perry
Here is what we know after more than a decade of Republican rule: Texas works. Even 'The New York Times' let it slip into its pages that, 'Texas is the future.'
– Rick Perry
Crucial to understanding federalism in modern day America is the concept of mobility, or 'the ability to vote with your feet.' If you don't support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol - don't come to Texas. If you don't like medicinal marijuana and gay marriage, don't move to California.
– Rick Perry
Conservatives are winning offices, and champions of big government are cleaning out their desks right now.
– Rick Perry
But it wasn't until I graduated from Texas A & M University and joined the United States Air Force, flying C-130's all around the globe, that I truly appreciated the blessings of freedom.
– Rick Perry
But if you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they've been brought there by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart. We need to be educating these children, because they will become a drag on our society.
– Rick Perry
As Americans, we realize that there is no taxpayer money that wasn't first earned through the sweat and toil of one of our citizens.
– Rick Perry
As Americans, we don't see the role of government as guaranteeing outcomes, but allowing free men and women to flourish based on their own vision, their hard work and their personal responsibility.
– Rick Perry
And I think most people in this country want to see a president that's got the courage to say we're going to cut the tax burden, and reduce the regulatory climate, and we're going to get Americans working.
– Rick Perry
Americans want government that is leaner, more efficient, and less intrusive into their personal lives.
– Rick Perry
America's greatness is not found in the size of its government. America's greatness resides in the hearts and the minds of the people.
– Rick Perry
America needs jobs, smaller government, less spending and a president with the courage to offer more than yet another speech.
– Rick Perry