Rick Perry Quotes

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.

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.

Obama is a president, who I think is anti-jobs.

I’m all about job creation. That’s what I’ve done for ten years as the governor of Texas, and that’s what I’m focused on.

I disagree with the concept that somehow or another we’re going to pack up 10, to 12, to 15 million people and ship them back to the country of origin. That’s not going to happen.

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.

I believe in America. I believe in her purpose and her promise. I believe her best days have not yet been lived. I believe her greatest deeds are reserved for the generations to come.

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.

I think you need to have a tax system that basically is flat, fair and simple. And – that you can put on a post card. I mean, even Timothy Geithner could do this one and get it on time.

We do not have to accept our current circumstances. We will change them. We are Americans. That’s what we do.

I have no question that Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement.

When a criminal breaks into your home I’ll let the liberals call the lawyer. I’m going to call Smith & Wesson.

It is time to change our policy of appeasement toward the Palestinians, to strengthen our ties with the nation of Israel.

My hope is that that person will come forward that can win the presidency that we can all get behind.

Our view is that individuals and families can govern their lives better than bureaucrats.

It is through states that the American people get the job done every day, often in spite of a deeply flawed bureaucratic federal government.

We cannot afford four more years of this misguided socialist policies from President Obama and his administration.

I don’t think Obama understands basic economics. Not economics that work. He may understand some theory that someone in Princeton sat and dreamed up, but it’s not working.

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.

And I have a message for the liberals and the defenders of the status quo: we’re just getting started.

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.

In America, the people are not subjects of government, the government is subject to the people.

We believe in government involvement that leads to independence: good schools, quality roads and the best health care.

Aggies have a really interesting way of admitting defeat. We’ve never been outscored. We just ran out of time.

When it comes to conservative social issues, it saddens me when sometimes my fellow Republicans duck and cover in the face of pressure from the left. Our loudest opponents on the left are never going to like us so let’s quit trying to curry favor with them.

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.

Let’s stop this American downward spiral.

Let’s make what Americans buy. Buy what Americans make. And sell it to the world.

Our shared conservative values, our belief in the individual is the great hope of our nation.

I want you to answer this question: Why should you settle for anything less than an authentic conservative who will fight for your views and values without an apology? Think about that.

Washington’s insatiable desire to spend our children’s inheritance on failed stimulus plans and other misguided economic theories have given record debt and left us with far too many unemployed.

America needs jobs, smaller government, less spending and a president with the courage to offer more than yet another speech.

You know, to preserve our job-friendly climate the Texas legislature didn’t raise taxes this last legislative session while balancing their budget and maintaining their reserves – and might I add that our budget leaves $6 billion dollars in a rainy day fund?

Those jobs flee other states because of factors like excessive taxation, punitive regulation and frivolous lawsuits.

The fact is there is forgiveness for those who seek God. And I believe in the power of redemption.

We will reverse course on the heavy hand of regulation, discarding Dodd-Frank and any other regulations that advance a political agenda at the expense of jobs and investment on Main Street.

Vladimir Putin uses energy to hold our allies hostage. If energy is going to be used as a weapon, I say America must have the largest arsenal.

Dark economic clouds are dissipating into an emerging blue sky of opportunity.

I know something. America is not broken, Washington, D.C. is broken.

I am also the product of a place called Paint Creek. Doesn’t have a zip code. It’s too small to be called a town along the rolling plains of Texas. We grew dryland cotton and wheat, and when I wasn’t farming or attending Paint Creek Rural School, I was generally over at Troop 48 working on my Eagle Scout award.

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.

It is time to let America be America again. To return freedom to the people. To stand on our founding principles and reject the cynical politics of the Nanny State.

Our best days are in front of us. We can reform those entitlements, we can change that corporate tax code and lower it. We can put America back on track on a growth level and a growth rate that we’ve never seen in the history of this country.

I supported Arizona’s immigration law by joining in that lawsuit to defend it. Every day I have Texans on that border that are doing their job.

Spreading the wealth punishes success while setting America on course for a greater dependency on government.

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.

Texas created more jobs in 2008 than the rest of the states – combined.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Page one of any economic plan to get America working is to give a pink slip to the current resident in the White House.

The Obama administration is an affront to every freedom-loving American, and a threat to every private sector job in this country.

Being the Republican front-runner was three of the most exciting hours of my entire life. I’ve come to grips with it, and the only lasting effect is that I refuse to go on a stage that has more than one podium on it.

We are a resilient country. We’ve been through a Civil War; we’ve been through two World Wars. We’ve been through a Great Depression; we even made it through Jimmy Carter! We will make it through the Obama years!

Tell the trial lawyers to get out of your state and to quit costing businessmen and women.

Every life is precious.

I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.

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.

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.

It’s time to bring tough medicine to Washington. No longer will policy be set by K Street, it will be dictated by Main Street.

I stand before you today as a disciplined conservative Texan, a committed Republican and a proud American, united with you to restoring our nation and revive the American dream.

Conservatives are winning offices, and champions of big government are cleaning out their desks right now.

I don’t want to look like Connecticut, no offense, I don’t want to look like Oklahoma, I don’t want to look like California. I want to be uniquely Texas. And that’s not to diss anybody else.

To make sure that votes are never canceled out by illegal votes, we instituted a photo ID requirement. And don’t you think it’s fair to apply at least the same standard required to get a library card or to board an airpane?

I am going to give the American people a huge helping of unbridled truth: that we can’t continue to spend what we are spending, that we can’t avoid entitlement reform because we are afraid of third rail politics.

You see, as Americans we’re not defined by class, and we will never be told our place. What makes our nation exceptional is that anyone, from any background, can climb the highest of heights.

It is up to us, to this present generation of Americans, to take a stand for freedom, to send a message to Washington that we’re taking our future back from the grips of central planners who would control our healthcare, who would spend our treasure, who downgrade our future and micro-manage our lives.

Guns require a finger to pull the trigger.

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.