Quotes from Barbara Bush

I'm taking a vow not to advise.

Raising George Walker was not easy.

I don't like the blame game, though.

Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life's blood . . . but everyone has something to give.

I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be controversial, that would not really cost the government a lot of money.

Whatever the era...one thing will never change: Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first.

There are a lot of ways to serve, and being president is not the only one, and I would hope that someone else would run.

The personal things should be left out of, in my opinion, out of platforms and conventions.

I mean Afghanistan is a very rugged, complicated country.

If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.

I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.

You may think the president is all-powerful, but he is not. He needs a lot of guidance from the Lord.

I really built myself up, darn it, to be very strong.

Bias has to be taught. If you hear your parents downgrading women or people of different backgrounds, why, you are going to do that.

You know sit with your arm around a little kid and read. It not only teaches them to read but it keeps the family strong.

Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the president's spouse. I wish him well!

I really loved living in the White House, but I don't miss it at all.

Three publishers came to me at the White House after George lost and said, 'We would like to publish your book.' I said, 'Well, I don't have a book,' and they said well it's a well known fact that you have kept diaries.

I'm not being outspoken or pro or con abortion.

Family and friends and faith are the most important things in your life and you should be building friendships.

Whether you are talking about education, career, or service, you are talking about life. And life must really have joy. It's supposed to be fun.

Your success as a family... our success as a nation... depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house.

The winner of the hoop race will be the first to realize her dream, not society's dream, her own personal dream.

I'm a great believer that the most important years are the sort of early years but the preschool years and then into the first and second grades. If you get a good base in the first and second grade and you can read, you can do anything.