George Osborne Quotes

I have spoken about deficits, and I think deficits are important because they address broad economic and financial stability. We need to talk about that.

The debt ceiling is not something to toy with.

If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.

Cutting budget deficits can never be just an exercise in economics.

I am not wrong in the belief that its public funds are more secure than those of all the European powers.

But the debt limit obviously is something that needs to and will be passed. That is not inconsistent with a process and a belief that we have to get significant deficit reduction.

The first order of business is the elimination of the annual deficit.

I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt ceiling.

The single greatest force for deficit reduction is a growing economy.

The few emerging economies that have avoided booms and busts have done so by adhering to sound policy frameworks.

If we reach the debt ceiling, we don't have to default. Getting to that point just won't allow us to reach new debt.

I served on the budget committee in the Senate, and I remember as vividly as if it were yesterday when we had a hearing in which Alan Greenspan came and justified increasing spending and cutting taxes, saying that we didn't really need to pay down the debt - outrageous in my view.

Today we care about budgets more than anything. Our American future hangs on the ability of government to cut budget.

I think growing an economy is a good way to help with a deficit, but ultimately, it's about fiscal discipline and responsible spending - and smart decisions.

We should reduce total government spending as a percentage of the economy. The left wants to focus on the deficit so they can take us away from the focus on spending as a percentage of the economy.

Fiscal discipline is a priority in Romania, and we have already proven we are committed and able to make real progress in this area.

In Congress, I was a relentless advocate for fiscal responsibility.

One needs a comprehensive concept that decides just how much debt states like Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy can sustainably bear.

When Bill Clinton was in town, he sent over a balanced budget.

The Government has to stop borrowing as much money; if we don't, quite frankly New Zealand will be downgraded and interest rates will go up for all New Zealanders.

The real goal should be reduced government spending, rather than balanced budgets achieved by ever rising tax rates to cover ever rising spending.

You cannot spend your way out of recession or borrow your way out of debt.

Sequestration was not designed to be anyone's ideal method for getting our hands around government spending, and it certainly isn't mine.

A beautiful deleveraging balances the three options. In other words, there is a certain amount of austerity, there is a certain amount of debt restructuring, and there is a certain amount of printing of money. When done in the right mix, it isn't dramatic.

Governments must commit to sound economic and financial policies. This is how we ensure reform in the euro area - and our independence.