The best Ron Paul quotes are those that clearly state this Texas congressman and 2012 Republican presidential candidate's beliefs. Ron Paul is a conservative libertarian, and to some, he represents one of the "founding fathers" of the Tea Party Movement in America. Not surprisingly, many of these Ron Paul quotes deal with defending basic principles like individual liberties, free markets and constitutional government. Many other quotes concern Paul's opposition to taxation and his criticisms of big government spending. Don't see your favorite Ron Paul quote on this list? Feel free to add it in the comments below!
"I'm convinced that you never have to give up liberties to be safe. I think you're less safe when you give up your liberties."
Liberty and freedom are cornerstones of Ron Paul's beliefs. In 2008, Paul founded the Campaign for Liberty - a political organization whose mission is "to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a noninterventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity."
This quote, from Ron Paul's 'The Revolution: A Manifesto," again emphasizes his belief that the government is corrupted and that speaking out is a very, very bad idea.
"Under the United States Constitution, the federal government has no authority to hold states "accountable" for their education performance...In the free society envisioned by the founders, schools are held accountable to parents, not federal bureaucrats."
Ron Paul has spoken out against what he says is the poor quality of public education for decades. His ideal: privatization of public schools. At the very least, removing the federal government's control over education, allowing state and local government the power instead.
"The most basic principle to being a free American is the notion that we as individuals are responsible for our own lives and decisions. We do not have the right to rob our neighbors to make up for our mistakes, neither does our neighbor have any right to tell us how to live, so long as we aren’t infringing on their rights. Freedom to make bad decisions is inherent in the freedom to make good ones. If we are only free to make good decisions, we are not really free."
This particular quote came in a statement made by Ron Paul addressing Congress' discussions of online gambling - specifically, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Paul makes clear his belief that gambling "is ultimately a matter of personal choice." He's fine with whatever Americans want to do, provided he's "not forced to underwrite their losses."
"Freedom is not defined by safety. Freedom is defined by the ability of citizens to live without government interference. Government cannot create a world without risks, nor would we really wish to live in such a fictional place. Only a totalitarian society would even claim absolute safety as a worthy ideal, because it would require total state control over its citizens’ lives. Liberty has meaning only if we still believe in it when terrible things happen and a false government security blanket beckons."
This quote, taken from Ron Paul's book, 'A Foreign Policy of Freedom,' discusses Paul's views on security and liberty in America. In particular, he discusses how he believes our personal freedoms are being limited by state-provided security.
""A system of capitalism presumes sound money, not fiat money manipulated by a central bank. Capitalism cherishes voluntary contracts and interest rates that are determined by savings, not credit creation by a central bank."
Ron Paul is clearly not a fan of central banks - no, it's up to the people to save and spend.
"1913 wasn't a very good year. 1913 gave us the income tax, the 16th amendment and the IRS."
A brief quote, to be sure, but one that clearly sums up much of Ron Paul's beliefs: Strict opposition to the 16th Amendment (giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes).
"A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked."
Ron Paul believes that security in the U.S. begins at home - by securing borders, eliminating any programs that he says subsidize illegal immigration (welfare benefits, free health care, etc.).
"It’s time to rethink the whole system of HMOs and managed care. This entire unnecessary level of corporatism rakes off profits and worsens the quality of care. But HMOs did not arise in the free market; they are creatures of government interference in health care dating to the 1970s. These non-market institutions have gained control over medical care through collusion between organized medicine, politicians, and drug companies, in an effort to move America toward "free" universal health care."
Ron Paul believes that government and special interests directly affect the level of quality and cost of health care. He says he believes a free-market economy can, indeed, delivery adequate medical care. He says the current crisis is the direct consequence of the government - specifically, the idea of managed care.
"I think stem cell research is crucial. I think medically it has a great f*ture. I think that the answers aren't in yet. Some people say it's absolutely the answer, and others say it's no good and don't do it. It's not known yet, and I'll tell you what: politicians and bureaucrats and the FDA don't know either, and I don't think that's where it should be determined. It should be determined in the marketplace. In Washington so far we only had two choices, either prohibit it or subsidize it. My position is that we shouldn't do either. It should be in the states to devise the rules and laws on what you can do and can't do."
While Ron Paul does, generally, support stem cell research, he doesn't believe that it's up to the government to regulate or subsidize it. His thinking is that, like many other things, the decision on stem cell research should be left up to states.
"I am just absolutely convinced that the best formula for giving us peace and preserving the American way of life is freedom, limited government, and minding our own business overseas."
Ron Paul's unwavering beliefs, made quite clear in this quote, have put him at odds, on occasion, with others in his own GOP party. Expect this to happen once again on the 2012 presidential campaign trail.
"Those who seek a pro-life culture must accept that we will never persuade all 300 million Americans to agree with us. A pro-life culture can be built only from the ground up, person by person. For too long we have viewed the battle as purely political, but no political victory can change a degraded society. No Supreme Court ruling by itself can instill greater respect for life. And no Supreme Court justice can save our freedoms if we don't fight for them ourselves."
Ron Paul doesn't like the federal government doing anything - including regulating the laws of abortion. He believes the regulation and/or restriction on abortion should be left up to individual states.
"Another term for preventive war is aggressive war - starting wars because someday somebody might do something to us. That is not part of the American tradition."
Ron Paul doesn't think we should be fighting wars that he believes don't involve us. He frequently speaks out about non-intervention - that is, not getting involved in wars involving other nations, at any cost.
"From the Great Depression, to the stagflation of the seventies, to the current economic crisis caused by the housing bubble, every economic downturn suffered by this country over the past century can be traced to Federal Reserve policy. The Fed has followed a consistent policy of flooding the economy with easy money, leading to a misallocation of resources and an artificial 'boom' followed by a recession or depression when the Fed-created bubble bursts."
Ron Paul quotes often include his views that the Fed violates the U.S. Constitution and why much of America's economic problems are directly related to Fed policy.
"Back a hundred years ago, especially around Woodrow Wilson, what happened in this country is we took freedom and we chopped it into pieces."
Yet another Ron Paul quote relating to Americans' personal freedoms. He is uncompromising in his belief that small government is necessary in order to promote personal freedom in the U.S.
FrankLodico On Stem Cell Research at 8/17/2011 11:35 AM
kinda like education, uneasy not having big gov as a firewall against state views. And sometimes the big gov is the only entity wiiling to do r+d, which has had and will continue to have, a huge paybackvs dollars spent. (space program ?etc)
"I'm convinced that you never have to give up liberties to be safe. I think you're less safe when you give up your liberties."
"The most basic principle to being a free American is the notion that we as individuals are responsible for our own lives and decisions. We do not have the right to rob our neighbors to make up for our mistakes, neither does our neighbor have any right to tell us how to live, so long as we aren’t infringing on their rights. Freedom to make bad decisions is inherent in the freedom to make good ones. If we are only free to make good decisions, we are not really free."
Post a Comment
The Best Ron Paul Quotes at 1/24/2012 3:19 PM
On Stem Cell Research at 8/17/2011 11:35 AM
On Being a Free American at 8/17/2011 11:29 AM
On Education at 8/17/2011 11:27 AM
The Best Ron Paul Quotes at 6/28/2011 4:32 AM
Ronald Ernest Paul
David Hackworth
William J. Fallon
Smedley Butler