George W. Bush on Freedom
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“Freedom is a powerful force, but it does not advance on the wheels of historical inevitability.”
“When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror.”
Speaking alongside Gordon Brown in 2007, George W. Bush articulated a nuanced view on promoting democracy abroad, emphasizing enabling conditions over direct imposition.
“We can't impose freedom, but we can eliminate roadblocks to freedom, and to allow free societies to develop.”
“Freedom honors and unleashes human creativity — and creativity determines the strength and wealth of nations.”
“Freedom is not the possession of one race. We know with equal certainty that freedom is not the possession of one nation.”
“Freedom is a universal human desire... and a force for peace and prosperity in the world... We hear you and we support your cause.”
“Are millions of men and women and children condemned by history or culture to live in despotism? Are they alone never to know freedom, and never even to have a choice in the matter? I, for one, do not believe it. I believe every person has the ability and the right to be free.”
Speaking at the dedication of his presidential center in 2013, George W. Bush reflected on the responsibilities inherent in freedom and the importance of community support.
“Freedom brings responsibility. Independence from the state does not mean isolation from each other. A free society thrives when neighbors help neighbors, and the strong protect the weak, and public policies promote private compassion. As President, I tried to act on these principles every day. That wasn’t always easy, and it certainly wasn’t always popular. One of the benefits of freedom is that people can disagree.”
Speaking at the dedication of his presidential center in 2013, George W. Bush articulated his belief in freedom as a divinely ordained and universally yearned-for principle.
“I believe that freedom is a gift from God and the hope of every human heart. Freedom inspired our Founders, and preserved our Union through Civil War, and secured the promise of civil rights. Freedom sustains dissidents bound by chains, believers huddled in underground churches, and voters who risk their lives to cast their ballots. Freedom unleashes creativity, rewards innovation, and replaces poverty with prosperity. And ultimately, freedom lights the path to peace.”
“Some question whether people in certain parts of the world actually desire freedom. This self-serving condescension has been disproved before our eyes. From the voting booths of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Liberia to the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia to the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon and the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, we have seen people consistently make the courageous decision to demand their liberty. For all the suggestions to the contrary, the truth is that whenever or wherever people are given the choice, they choose freedom.”