George W. Bush Quotes

The harsh truth is that if the policy isn’t hurting it isn’t working. I know there is a difficult period ahead but the important thing is that we cannot and must not fudge the determination to stop inflation in its tracks.

Clinton took very tough decisions on the economy.

However, the economics of our business continued to deteriorate. We barely escaped bankruptcy a year ago, and in the aftermath of that escape we had to make some even tougher decisions.

When I took over, the economy had almost collapsed. I told Malawians we needed to pass through difficult times. Two days ago I even cut my own salary by 30% to show we are making sacrifices.

As families and small businesses alike are tightening their belts to account for the worsening economy, they have every right to ask: 'Why isn't my government doing the same?'

I've, we have in this state, like many other states, we're experiencing an enormous budget deficit that we're trying to grapple with. But we will have progress despite the deficits.

We have major fiscal problems on our hand.

We're still in a recession. We're not gonna be out of it for a while, but we will get out.

Let's push the Pentagon off the fiscal cliff.

We're on the verge of a financial collapse unless we balance the budget, and that means some really, really tough decisions.

There's only so much that you can tighten your belt before you squeeze yourself to death.

Politicians always seek a pain-free solution to economic problems, and the economists keep reminding us that there is no such thing.

Economy is demanded in every branch of the government at all times, but especially in periods like the present, of depression in business and distress among the people. The severest economy must be observed in all public expenditures, and extravagance stopped wherever it is found, and prevented wherever in the future it may be developed. If the revenues are to remain as now, the only relief that can come must be from decreased expenditures. But the present must not become the permanent condition of the government.

We need to stop this overspending. We need to start turning this battleship in the right direction. And we all have to share in the sacrifice.

The emphasis so far on fiscal austerity, while to a degree necessary for the countries facing market funding difficulties, is excessive when carried out across the board.

Look, I don't dispute that the deficit has increased.

I don't buy into this, 'Oh, poor us. We've got tough budget problems.'

Democracies can't handle austerity measures very well.

When businesses face tough times, one of the first items they cut is overhead expenses. The government should do the same.

Funding for sports (and the arts) are often the first things facing the chop in difficult times.

We campaigned on the fact that we were going to have to take difficult decisions because of the state of the public finances. When we got into government we discovered that actually the public finances were in an even worse state than we thought.

Dealing with Greece's problems will be more difficult if Greece is not a member of the eurozone.

The Prime Minister in the UK thinks spending and borrowing more is the right thing to do in the circumstances, and is busily trying to bail out chunks of the private sector which would otherwise have to adjust more quickly to the painful reality that we have been living beyond our means.

Several unions have agreed to larger employee contributions for their members. Taxpayers are living with cuts and making sacrifices to deal with the reality of California's budget crisis, state workers are going to have to do the same.

We all have our problems and we are working to find a solution to ours and also to help the eurozone. We expect that other countries should do the same, that they be prudent in their statements.