Bob Riley Quotations

According to our Christian ethics, we're supposed to love God, love each other and help take care of the poor. It is immoral to charge somebody making $5,000 an income tax.

I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism.

God looked down on this country because this country was founded on the rock and that rock was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And when the storms came and the rains came, the rock, it did not move. But over the last 15 or 20 years, something began to erode.

Perseverance is a virtue that cannot be understated.

No skill shapes a child's future success in school or in life more than the ability to read.

Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed.

Tolerating evil leads only to more evil. And when good people stand by and do nothing while wickedness reigns, their communities will be consumed.

In a time of tight budgets, difficult choices have to be made. We must make sure our very limited resources are spent on priorities. I believe we should have no higher priority than investing in our children's classrooms and in their future.

For too long, we have focused on our differences - in our politics and backgrounds, in our race and beliefs - rather than cherishing the unity and pride that binds us together.

Drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope - and when we fight against drugs we are fighting for the future.

The amount of money we spend on education is important, but not nearly as important as how the money is spent.

When money follows results - we will get more results for our money

One person can make a difference. In fact, it's not only possible for one person to make a difference, it's essential that one person makes a difference. And believe it or not, that person is you.

The men and women who serve in our military have won for us every hour we live in freedom, sometimes at the expense of the very hours of the lifetimes they had hoped to live.

Half a world away nations that once lived under oppression and tyranny are now budding democracies due in large part to America 's leadership and the sacrifices of our military.

There is no longer time for statements like 'if only' or 'we can't.' We must and we will succeed. The only question now is how and when. I believe the time is now.

You elected government officials to make decisions and it's about time they started making good ones

I hope we never get to the point that we put ourselves in Jesus' place. But when I read the New Testament basically, we get three mandates: to love God, to love each other, and to take care of the least among us. And I think this is at least a step in the right direction.

If we are going to save this country, if we are going to reestablish that belief in God, it's up to us. If we don't do it, who will?

However, before we make the mistake of patting ourselves on the back, let's remember: government does not create jobs. It only helps create the conditions that make jobs more or less likely. The real credit for our economic renewal belongs to the people of Alabama .

Nothing is worse, or more of a breach of the social contract between citizen and state, than for government officials, bureaucrats and agencies to waste the money entrusted to them by the people they serve.

Government does not create jobs. It only helps create the conditions that make jobs more or less likely.

Ladies and gentlemen: There can be no greater investment in Alabama's future than an investment in education.

The fight for reform comes down to a simple goal: giving our citizens the confidence that government serves the people first and the people only.

The success of our economy shouldn't determine the success of our schools

We've got to take care of the poor.

I ask you: turn a deaf ear to the special interests. Let politics stand down for a while. don't waste anytime thinking about future elections until we've done our jobs here.

No two wars are ever the same. Some are just, some are unjust, but the basic commonality shared between them all is that young men and women heeded a call to service, overcame their fear, and fought for their side

There is no longer time for statements like ""if only"" or ""we can't."" We must and we will succeed. The only question now is how and when. I believe the time is now.

Change makes us confront the great unknown. It introduces different things into our lives. Different places. Different ideas. Different people. It's all hard to accept at times, and change can often be a little scary. But if there's one fact that I've learned from raising a family, from running several businesses, from serving in Congress and now as Governor, it's that nothing has ever grown without changing.

We must now view our problems as opportunities - historic opportunities to change the failed systems of the past and do what's right for our future.

I think you'd change Alabama fundamentally if in six years someone said, 'If you want the best education in America, you've got to live in Alabama.' you'd change economic development, change the image of this state, you'd offer these kids an opportunity they otherwise would never have had.

The opponents of my budget propose taking $200 million out of our classrooms and instead spending it on a larger school employee pay raise. Our focus should be on making sure our children come first.

One person can make a difference. In fact, its not only possible for one person to make a difference, its essential that one person makes a difference. And believe it or not, that person is you.

Victims of domestic violence need assistance and deserve justice, I commend the crime unit's efforts to put offenders behind bars and reach out to victims.

If my house is on fire, I don't need the fire chief telling me I should not have built the house out of wood. I need somebody to put the fire out.

Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the "hero" within us is revealed.

We're just telling them we'll do everything we can to help them get through this,

The primary threat posed by Hurricane Katrina is going to be flooding from storm surge, so those being evacuated just need to make sure they reach higher ground.

I had his cell phone; he had mine, ... There was just a constant communication.

I firmly believe God puts different people in different parts of history so great things can happen, ... I think Rosa Parks is one of those people.

If a child lives less than two miles, the parent has the responsibility to get that child to school. A school bus is just something people consider an easy solution.

We've gone through quite a 24 hours. Our Gulf Coast has been beaten and battered.

When I proposed this amendment to the Legislature, it simply removed segregationist language from our constitution -- something I hope all Alabamians would support.

has been beaten and battered the last 24 hours.

I think we've got one of the greatest presidents we've ever had, but he doesn't know Alabama the way I do,

Is Alabama better off than it was three years ago? ... four more years.

I won't let our great state move backward, not when we can keep Alabama moving forward,

Those being evacuated just need to make sure they reach higher ground.

The president of the United States called in and he said 'Bob, with 3,000 votes that's a landslide compared to some races,'

The opponents of my budget propose taking $200 million out of our classrooms and instead spending it on a larger school employee pay raise. Our focus should be on making sure our children come first.

there is no reason -- no jobs, no food -- no reason for them to stay.

Victims of domestic violence need support and effective services, ... I'm pleased to make these funds available to SABRA Sanctuary to assist their work in west Alabama.

Victims of domestic violence need assistance and deserve justice, ... I commend the crime unit's efforts to put offenders behind bars and reach out to victims.

Everything was embellished, everything was exaggerated, ... If one guy said he saw six bodies, then another guy the same six, and another guy saw them - then that became 18.

either in a place where looting occurred or involved in looting.

Drugs and crime often got hand-in-hand, so we must continue aggressive efforts to removed illegal drugs from our communities, ... I commend the efforts of the task force to make our neighborhoods safer.

The results today are conclusive. You're looking at the next governor of Alabama, ... There reaches a point when all of us have to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough.' We've reached that point.

There's nothing for them to go back to. At least for the next six months we can give the people some sort of shelter,

I've talked with federal officials and they've assured me this disruption of the gasoline supply is one of their top priorities and they're working to correct the problem, ... I'm hoping this will be a short-term disruption. In the meantime, citizens can continue to do their part by purchasing and using fuel responsibly.

These sites can have a large impact really quickly,

Some say they can no longer acknowledge God in government. I think that's sad. Because I acknowledge him every day -- in speeches, in the office, in meetings, schools and churches. We can all do that every day in the way we live our lives,

A property rights revolt is sweeping the nation, and Alabama is leading it,

Alabamians are a faithful people who believe that creating a better world for our children and helping our neighbors are both sacred duties.

A lot of people don't know where to go or what to do,

They have a different system in Georgia than we have,

absolutely ridiculous. ... He knows it, people in Baldwin County know it, and I know it.

It was devastating, but in comparison to what they had in southern Mississippi and Louisiana, it kind of pales in comparison,

It's time to take action - to put into practice a new approach that focuses on results and measurable improvements.

It makes no sense to have to haul ice from New Jersey to Alabama.

It's up to every citizen to say that this time in our history is important enough that we will let our voices be heard.

It's unfortunate the change made by the Legislature generated so much confusion and doubt about the amendment's intentions,

Does this mean it's going to be permanent? Does this mean it's going to be long-term? Absolutely not. But during this critical time right now . . . we have to take care of some of the people suffering. And the only way we're going to be able to do it is with some piece of legislation.

On behalf of the people of Alabama and Childersburg, I welcome you here, ... Remember every time you see it that you are a welcome partner in the state of Alabama.

Once I sign this law, ... Alabamians can be assured they will have the strongest private property protections in America.

The Labor Day Picnic at the Gov.'s Mansion has been canceled due to the tragedy of the recent hurricane. Our family asks that you remember the victims in your prayers.

Improving interstate access will allow industry in the Cullman area to continue and create new jobs, ... This project is an example of our efforts to create a strong partnership between the state, local governments and local industry to keep Alabama's economy moving forward.

Hillsborough transports more kids than anybody in the state.

How did we get to this point? How did we get to the point that today it's controversial to come together at a Bible study?

But unless you looted out of a boat, it would be very difficult to do,

Alabama is not just better off. Alabama is better,

Alabama is fortunate to have a world-class company like Toyota located here, ... It has a great team of dedicated workers who are helping to propel Alabama's economy forward. The state is proud to be a partner in the company's continuing success.

Alabama has been providing immediate and life-saving services to our neighbors and affected Alabama citizens in the wake of this disaster, ... Getting vital health-care services to these victims continues to be a priority for our state. The best and most efficient way to accomplish that is to support the state programs and the local health-care providers already in place.

The caring and compassionate spirit of Alabamians is truly awe-inspiring, ... I'm hearing from a tremendous number of Alabamians who want to volunteer and help others deal with this tragedy.

The distance-learning program will revolutionize the way we teach our children in Alabama forever. Just think about it: A kid in rural Clay County or Wilcox County will have the opportunity to take advanced physics, calculus, or even Chinese.