February 6, 1911

Ronald Reagan  Alton Tobey

Above all, we must realize 

that no arsenal, 

or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, 

is so formidable 

as the will and moral courage 

of free men and women. 

It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. 

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. 

We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. 

It must be fought for, 

protected, 

and handed on for them to do the same, 

or one day we will spend our sunset years 

telling our children and our children's children

what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

The government's view of the economy 

could be summed up in a few short phrases: 

If it moves, tax it. 

If it keeps moving, regulate it. 

And if it stops moving, subsidize it. 

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 

'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

The ultimate determinant

in the struggle now going on for the world 

will not be bombs and rockets 

but a test of wills and ideas-

a trial of spiritual resolve: 

the values we hold, 

the beliefs we cherish 

and the ideals to which we are dedicated.

A people free to choose will always choose peace.

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

We will preserve for our children this,

the last best hope of man on earth, 

or we will sentence them to take the first step 

into a thousand years of darkness. 

If we fail, 

at least let our children and 

our children's children 

say of us 

we justified our brief moment here. 

We did all that could be done.

Inflation is as violent as a mugger,

 as frightening as an armed robber

 and as deadly as a hit man.

Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall! 

Man is not free unless government is limited.

Protecting the rights 

of even the least individual among us 

is basically the only excuse the government has 

for even existing.

We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone. 

We have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child.

 We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, 

society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. 

It is time to restore the American precept 

that each individual is accountable for his actions.

Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, 

the need for its own existence.

We should measure welfare's success 

by how many people leave welfare, 

not by how many are added.

Freedom prospers 

when religion is vibrant 

and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.