Quotes By Barbara Bush

The state dinner is almost a formula, but you try to make it interesting. You try not to overload it with too many political types. You try to get a cross section.

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

When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.

The personal things should be left out of platforms at conventions. You can argue yourself blue in the face, and you're not going to change each other's minds. It's a waste of your time and my time.

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

One thing I can say about George... he may not be able to keep a job, but he's not boring.

Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.

I want to still be able to garden while I can bend over.

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

My health is very good.

I do have the most marvelous husband, children, and grandchildren.

I don't like the blame game, though.

My son, George, has been a bad, bad boy! Right, George?

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.

Life has changed enormously, and I hope - I hope more people read good things.

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!

Raising five boys is a handful, trust me.

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

I'm a little old-fashioned.

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 don't like attacking.

I have a pig valve.

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

You can't tell a 6-year-old your sister is going to die.

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

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

People who worry about their hair all the time, frankly, are boring.

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

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

Well, look at what people are doing for returned veterans now. The wounded warriors. They're working hard to make the wounded veterans feel that they are loved and welcomed home, unlike Vietnam. It was not a very kind, gentle world then. I think we are kinder and gentler.