Inspiring Quotes On Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness From Every US President
<img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53b485dc6bb3f76c298c2a59-480-/john-f-kennedy-5.jpg" border="0" alt="john f kennedy" width="480" style="float: right;" />
In honor of America's 238th birthday, we collected the finest aphorisms to come from the Oval Office.
They include <span style="background-color: #ffffff;">life lessons from George Washington, leadership advice from Thomas Jefferson, and reflections on success from Abraham Lincoln.</span>
These leaders probably had the toughest job in the world. Here are a few of the things they learned from it.
<h3>George Washington</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53b47a8eeab8eae124331827-400-300/george-washington.jpg" alt="" />
1789-1797
"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
<h3>John Adams</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4ff33abeecad04bf2900000c-400-300/john-adams.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1797-1801</span>
<span>"You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen."</span>
<h3>Thomas Jefferson</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/53b47b2beab8ea6c29331825-400-300/thomas-jefferson.jpg" alt="" />
1801-1809
"<span>When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred." </span>
<h3>James Madison</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd32037f8b9a860f840d00-400-300/james-madison.jpg" alt="" />
1809-1817
"The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
<h3>James Monroe</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd320e7f8b9ae0166b0300-400-300/james-monroe.jpg" alt="" />
1817-1825
"I<span>t is by a thorough knowledge of the whole subject that [people] are enabled to judge correctly of the past and to give a proper direction to the future." </span>
<h3>John Quincy Adams</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd32197f8b9a8a59660100-400-300/john-quincy-adams.jpg" alt="" />
1825-1829
"I<span>f your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." </span>
<h3>Andrew Jackson</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd32257f8b9ab9597f0000-400-300/andrew-jackson.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1829-1837</span>
<span>"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in."</span>
<h3>Martin Van Buren</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd32307f8b9ac7778e0000-400-300/martin-van-buren.jpg" alt="" />
1837-1841
"<span>All the lessons of history and experience must be lost upon us if we are content to trust alone to the peculiar advantages we happen to possess." </span>
<h3>William Henry Harrison</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4ff33f36eab8ea944d000002-400-300/william-henry-harrison.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1841</span>
<span>"I contend that the strongest of all governments is that which is most free." </span>
<h3>John Tyler</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/53b47c676bb3f762798c2a5c-400-300/john-tyler.jpg" alt="" />
1841-1845
"<span>Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality." </span>
<h3>James Polk</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd32567f8b9ab7598f0000-400-300/james-polk.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1845-1849</span>
<span>"M</span><span>ay the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human family."</span>
<h3>Zachary Taylor</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd366b7f8b9a5a78050200-400-300/zachary-taylor.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1849-1850</span>
<span>"</span><span>It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostrate foe."</span>
<h3>Millard Fillmore</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd367b7f8b9a7d77f90600-400-300/millard-fillmore.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1850-1853</span>
<span>"An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory."</span>
<h3>Franklin Pierce</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36877f8b9a085aa60300-400-300/franklin-pierce.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1853-1857</span>
<span>"The storm of frenzy and faction must inevitably dash itself in vain against the unshaken rock of the Constitution."</span>
<h3>James Buchanan</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36937f8b9aa378730000-400-300/james-buchanan.jpg" alt="" />
1857-1861
"<span>A long visit to a friend is often a great bore. Never make people twice glad." </span>
<h3>Abraham Lincoln</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/529e5f1969beddc949dfbb9c-400-300/abraham-lincoln.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1861-1865</span>
<span>"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."</span>
<h3>Andrew Johnson</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36ae7f8b9a0e1b2b0100-400-300/andrew-johnson.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1865-1869</span>
<span>"</span><span>Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide."</span>
<h3>Ulysses S. Grant</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36b97f8b9aa378a30000-400-300/ulysses-s-grant.jpg" alt="" />
1869-1877
"<span>The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on." </span>
<h3>Rutherford B. Hayes</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36ca7f8b9a4478600300-400-300/rutherford-b-hayes.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1877-1881</span>
<span>"For honest merit to succeed amid the tricks and intrigues which are now so lamentably common, I know is difficult; but the honor of success is increased by the obstacles which are to be surmounted. Let me triumph as a man or not at all."</span>
<h3>James Garfield</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36d47f8b9aa25a160000-400-300/james-garfield.jpg" alt="" />
1881
"<span>Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let everyone know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using. If you are not too large for the place you occupy, you are too small for it." </span>
<h3>Chester Arthur</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd36e07f8b9ab859980600-400-300/chester-arthur.jpg" alt="" />
1881-1885
"<span>Good ball players make good citizens." </span>
<h3>Grover Cleveland</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/50f1c649eab8ea5c15000013-400-300/grover-cleveland.jpg" alt="" />
<span>1885-1889, 1893-1897</span>
<span>"A truly American sentiment recognizes the dignity of labor and the fact that honor lies in honest toil."</span><span> </span>
<h3>Benjamin Harrison</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/4bfd391f7f8b9a9278380300-400-300/benjamin-harrison.jpg" alt="" />
1889-1893
"I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process."