Many kids dream of one day becoming president, but in reality, that dream is only realized by a chosen few.
There have now been just 45 people who have held our nation’s highest elected office.
From career politicians and lawyers to military generals and billionaire real estate developers, the oval office has seen men from many different walks of life pass through its doors.
Is there a common denominator among the men who have been elected to serve as Commander in Chief or is luck and random chance at play?
Regardless of your opinion on what has caused these men to become president, there is no denying these guys have shared some wise words and sage advice over the years.
It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you figuratively sit on, try to put political inclinations aside and focus on the words themselves, for in them lie the secret sauce of success.
Whether you need some stately advice about money, or just need a good old-fashioned kick in the pants, these guys have got you covered.
But, before we get to the quotes, let’s have a little fun.
Old Guys on Money
Do you know which presidents are on the bills in your wallet? How about on the coins in the cup holder of your car? What was the largest denomination ever circulated?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, check out this awesome infographic from NerdWallet to brush up on your history.
Words of Wisdom
1. Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder. – George Washington
2. We must consult our means rather than our wishes. – George Washington
3. To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones. – George Washington
4. Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. – Abraham Lincoln
5. Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson
6. It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness. – Thomas Jefferson
7. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt
8. It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. – Theodore Roosevelt
9. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. – Theodore Roosevelt
10. If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month. – Theodore Roosevelt
11. Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. – Abraham Lincoln
12. Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality. – John Tyler
13. Piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose. – Jimmy Carter
14. Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. – John F. Kennedy
15. There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction. – John F. Kennedy
16. We are not the sum of our possessions. – George H. W. Bush
17. Money is not the only answer, but it makes a difference. – Barack Obama
18. Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. – Barack Obama
19. Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive. – Donald Trump
20. Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game. – Donald Trump
Do any of these resonate with you? If so, why? Do you have a favorite quote from a president which was not included here?
Great post. One of my favourites is from Obama, on how successful people don’t become successful all on their own. So while you are trying to figure everything out, don’t forget to ask for help from those who have done it before you. Most of his quote was referring to how the gov’t helps in various forms (roads, infrastructure, internet, etc), but I think the sentiment goes a bit deeper than that.
“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help … when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.”
Thanks, Bradley. Happy to see you here! That is a great quote and not one that I was familiar with. Thank you very much for sharing!
10. If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month. – Theodore Roosevelt
I like this one the most as I believe that you are where you are in life because of the millions of choices, large and small – good and bad, that you have made during your life.
Isn’t it the truth?! It is one of my favorites as well. Often, we are our own worst enemies. I am right there with you about us being the sum of all our past choices and decisions. Thanks, Mr. DD.
I like #15. I’ve always felt that people should step out of their comfort zone in order to affect change in their life and personal situations. Sure there are risks and you could fail, but the potential rewards outweigh the comfort of accepting things as the status quo.
Thanks for your comment, SRGO! I could not agree more. It is so safe and comfortable living in our comfort zone, but it is only when we dare to step outside of it and into the unknown that we grow. JFK’s quote sums this up so well.