The action we take and the decisions we make in this decade will have consequences far into this century. If America shows weakness and uncertainty, the world will drift toward tragedy. That will not happen on my watch.
George W. BushRead
Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Civility is a conscious choice based on trust and community, rather than negativity and disorder.
In this quote, George W. Bush emphasizes that civility is not merely an approach or feeling; it requires deliberate action and a commitment to fostering trust within a community. By choosing civility, individuals actively reject cynicism and chaos, creating a more harmonious and cooperative society.
Themes
CivilityTrustCommunityChaosLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech advocating for community engagement, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of civility in building trust.
More from George W. Bush
All quotes βThousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.
George W. BushRead
Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended.
George W. BushRead
Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.
George W. BushRead
Adoption was such a positive alternative to abortion, a way to save one life and brighten two more: those of the adoptive parents.
George W. BushRead
We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions - by abandoning every value except the will to power - they follow in the path of fascism, and Nazism, and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends: in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies.
George W. BushRead
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