Top 50 Bob Dole Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “The difference between possible and impossible is hard work and commitment.”

— Bob Dole

2. “Things are going to get better. Be optimistic.”

— Bob Dole

3. “When I was quite young, I put my trust in God – not government; and I never get the two confused.”

— Bob Dole

4. “The horizon is out there somewhere and you keep chasing it, looking for it and working for it.”

— Bob Dole

5. “The purpose of a tax cut is to leave more money where it belongs: in the hands of the working men and working women who earned it in the first place.”

— Bob Dole

6. “Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others!”

— Bob Dole

7. “I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I didn’t have any.”

— Bob Dole

8. “All the wisdom doesn’t reside in one party.”

— Bob Dole

9. “Merely presenting a driver’s license or other document based on a birth certificate is not enough for an accurate verification. Biometric verification of identity must be made and then a data base of those persons who have legal status must be checked.”

— Bob Dole

10. “I know there are California oranges and Florida oranges. When I’m in Florida, I like Florida oranges. Today, I think California oranges are the best, of course.”

— Bob Dole

11. “The internet is a great way to get on the net.”

— Bob Dole

12. “I think one of life’s great milestones is when a person can look back and be almost as thankful for the setbacks as for the victories.”

— Bob Dole

13. “A government that seizes control of the economy for the good of the people, ends up seizing control of the people for the good of the economy.”

— Bob Dole

14. “When these political action committees give money, they expect something in return other than good government.”

— Bob Dole

15. “Those who cultivate moral confusion for profit should understand this: we will name their names and shame them as they deserve to be shamed.”

— Bob Dole

16. “You know, a better man for a better America. That’s sort of our slogan.”

— Bob Dole

17. “History buffs probably noted the reunion at a Washington party a few weeks ago of three ex-presidents: Carter, Ford and Nixon – See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Evil.”

— Bob Dole

18. “We’re trying to get good pictures. Don’t worry very much about what I say.”

— Bob Dole

19. “If we added up the killed and wounded from the Democrat wars in this country, it would be about 1.6 million Americans.”

— Bob Dole

20. “You read what Disraeli had to say. I don’t remember what he said. He said something. He’s no longer with us.”

— Bob Dole

21. “If we had known we were going to win control of the Senate, we’d have run better candidates.”

— Bob Dole

22. “It’s a lot more fun winning. It hurts to lose.”

— Bob Dole

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23. “If you’re hanging around with nothing to do and the zoo is closed, come over to the Senate. You’ll get the same kind of feeling and you won’t have to pay.”

— Bob Dole

24. “President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: “I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that Jimmy Carter came to me and asked why I wanted his job. I told him I didn’t want his job. I want to be President.””

— Bob Dole

25. “The Brooklyn Dodgers had a no hitter last night.”

— Bob Dole

26. “Something is wrong with America. I wonder sometimes what people are thinking about or if they’re thinking at all.”

— Bob Dole

27. “Political advice is a bit like your average Christmas fruitcake: something everyone gives and no one wants.”

— Bob Dole

28. “You feel a little older in the morning. By noon I feel about 55.”

— Bob Dole

29. “Stop telling the truth about my record!”

— Bob Dole

30. “We know smoking tobacco is not good for kids, but a lot of other things aren’t good. Drinking’s not good. Some would say milk’s not good.”

— Bob Dole

31. “What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war, rather it’s a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys and that inspires Americans in every generation to lay down their lives for people they will never meet, for ideals that make life itself worth living.”

— Bob Dole

32. “If there is one clear lesson of our century, it is this: where aggression is tolerated, it multiplies.”

— Bob Dole

33. “At my age you find yourself looking back from time to time and you begin to appreciate some of the things that happened to you.”

— Bob Dole

34. “I had a dream that I would be here this week, receiving something from the president, but I thought it would be the front door key.”

— Bob Dole

35. “President Obama came to visit me in the hospital. He said, ‘I wish you were still in the Senate; I need your help.’ I’m not certain I can help on everything. Maybe some things.”

— Bob Dole

36. “I think it’s OK to talk about your military service, but there’s a fine line between, you know, too much and just about right.”

— Bob Dole

37. “No more verbally incomprehensible no more devoid of the vision thing and no more the cautious pragmatist proudly displaying the virtues of tradition and the advantages of biological seniority.”

— Bob Dole

38. “If Lincoln had an affair with a slave woman, it would be an outrage, but when Clinton does it with one of his staff, everyone is okay with it.”

— Bob Dole

39. “In what might be a motto of those who sought the presidency and lost, Ted Kennedy once said, “Frankly, I don’t mind not being President. I just mind that someone else is.””

— Bob Dole

40. “Life is very important to Americans.”

— Bob Dole

41. “I lost in ’96, in case the word hadn’t trickled out, and so I made a few commercials.”

— Bob Dole

42. “I don’t know how many people run for vice president and president and lose both.”

— Bob Dole

43. “Having been in Congress, you know that’s part of our responsibility the constituent has a problem, We’re supposed to write back and say, ‘Well I can’t do anything’ That’s not what they elect you for.”

— Bob Dole

44. “It’s going to be hard for someone like me to run for president.”

— Bob Dole

45. “The wind doesn’t bother me. I’m in the US Senate.”

— Bob Dole

46. “We’ll all be riding that streetcar of desire.”

— Bob Dole

47. “All you need to know is this. You can never go wrong by voting for a bill that fails, or against a bill that passes.”

— Bob Dole

48. “Elizabeth’s back at the red cross, and I’m walking the dog.”

— Bob Dole

49. “If something happened along the route and you had to leave your children with Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I think you would probably leave them with Bob Dole.”

— Bob Dole

50. “Our intent will not be to create gridlock. Oh, except maybe from time to time.”

— Bob Dole