Bruce Rauner Quotes

Powerful Bruce Rauner for Daily Growth

About Bruce Rauner

Bruce Rauner, born on November 26, 1953, is an American businessman, politician, and philanthropist, best known for serving as the 42nd Governor of Illinois from 2015 to 2019. Rauner was born in New York City and raised in Milton, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in economics from Dartmouth College in 1975 and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978. His professional career began at Bain & Company, where he worked for over a decade, eventually rising to the position of managing director. In 1984, Rauner co-founded GTCR, a Chicago-based private equity firm that focused on investing in growth-oriented businesses. Under his leadership, GTCR became one of the most successful firms in the industry. His success in business paved the way for his entry into politics. In 2014, Rauner ran for Governor of Illinois as a Republican and won, defeating incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn. During his tenure, he proposed significant budget reforms aimed at reducing the state's massive debt, but his efforts were met with resistance from the Democratic-controlled legislature. Rauner is known for his philanthropic endeavors, particularly in education and healthcare. He founded the Rauner Foundation, which supports organizations working in these areas. Despite his political career ending in 2019, Rauner continues to be an influential figure in Illinois politics and beyond. Notable quotes from Bruce Rauner include: "I'm a problem-solver. I don't look at problems; I look for solutions," and "Government is the antithesis of innovation, creativity, and growth." These quotes reflect his approach to both business and politics, emphasizing practicality, solution-focused thinking, and a distaste for bureaucracy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Government is like a big machine that we're all riding on together. If it breaks down, everyone goes backwards."

This quote by Bruce Rauner highlights the interconnectedness and dependence on effective governance. He analogizes government to a large, shared vehicle whose smooth functioning enables progress for everyone. When the machine, or government, malfunctions, it causes backward movement or regression for all those who are reliant upon it, reinforcing the importance of good governance for societal advancement.


"The role of government should be to create a climate where businesses can grow and create jobs."

This quote by Bruce Rauner emphasizes the belief that the primary function of government should be to foster an environment conducive for business growth and job creation. In simpler terms, it suggests that the government's role is not to directly manage businesses but rather to establish policies, regulations, and infrastructure that encourage economic development and prosperity by enabling businesses to thrive, leading to employment opportunities. This approach encourages entrepreneurship, innovation, and a strong economy.


"We have to make sure that every child in this state has the opportunity for a world-class education."

This quote by Bruce Rauner emphasizes the importance of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for all children within the state, with the ultimate goal of providing them with a globally competitive education. This perspective underscores the belief that every child deserves an excellent educational foundation, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographical location, to have the best possible chances in life and contribute positively to society.


"I believe we need to be bold, to think big and act decisively."

This quote emphasizes a proactive approach that combines audacity, ambition, and action. It suggests that in order to achieve significant outcomes, one should not only have visionary ideas but also the courage to implement them decisively. In essence, it underscores the importance of bold thinking and swift action for impactful results.


"Illinois is not broken, but it needs fixing."

The quote by Bruce Rauner indicates that despite Illinois facing significant challenges or issues (being "broken"), he believes it to be fundamentally sound ("not broken"). Instead, he suggests that what's needed is targeted action to address the problems and improve the state, hence his phrase, "it needs fixing." This perspective emphasizes a belief in the potential for positive change and progress, rather than focusing solely on the state's difficulties.


Great teaching requires incredible talent and dedication, strong intellectual ability and interpersonal skill, real discipline and empathy.

- Bruce Rauner

Strong, Empathy, Incredible, Intellectual

Your average person in Illinois doesn't really even know what workers' comp is. The average person doesn't know really what's going on in the pension system. They know their taxes are too high; they know we've got a deficit. But getting that message out and helping the people of Illinois really understand what's going on, that's hard.

- Bruce Rauner

Average, Helping, Illinois, Pension

I've been very engaged in Illinois and Chicago civic activities for a long time; mostly around building businesses and helping entrepreneurs grow companies, but also around education and education reform.

- Bruce Rauner

Been, Engaged, Very, Civic

We cannot accept the status quo of throwing more taxpayer money into a broke and broken system.

- Bruce Rauner

Broken, Broke, We Cannot, Status Quo

We've become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It's crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom into the state. And I believe that very passionately.

- Bruce Rauner

Very, Crushing, Illinois, Fixed

I just want the state fixed, and I just want to do the right thing for the taxpayers.

- Bruce Rauner

Want, Right Thing, Taxpayers, Fixed

If yelling and threatening, intimidating and chanting solved problems, Illinois wouldn't have any problems. We're good at that stuff.

- Bruce Rauner

Threatening, Yelling, Chanting

I'm a big outdoorsman... I'm a big hunter. Avid fisherman. Hiker. Climber. Scuba diver. Skier. Love the outdoors.

- Bruce Rauner

Love, Big, Scuba, Skier

Government pensions are among the largest cost drivers for state and local governments.

- Bruce Rauner

Cost, Pensions, Largest, Local Governments

I've got to pick my fights at the right time.

- Bruce Rauner

Right, Pick, Fights, Right Time

Those who want low taxes and healthy job creation know that an unnecessary dollar going to these unions is a dollar that cannot reduce the tax burden on homeowners, small businesses, and job creators.

- Bruce Rauner

Small, Taxes, Creators, Businesses

We've talked through the fact that our family will be attacked. Our family will be dragged through the mud. My businesses that I've helped build and create will be attacked and dragged through the mud. That's politics. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it or thinking about it.

- Bruce Rauner

Politics, Fact, Through, Businesses

We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.

- Bruce Rauner

Refugees, While, Our, Welcoming

Government unions should not be allowed to influence the public officials they are lobbying, and sitting across the bargaining table from, through campaign donations and expenditures.

- Bruce Rauner

Through, Unions, Bargaining, Table

I don't have a Rolls. I don't have a jet. That's not me.

- Bruce Rauner

Me, Rolls, Jet

The people of Illinois sent me to Springfield to end the era of unbalanced budgets and runaway debt.

- Bruce Rauner

Era, Budgets, Illinois, Runaway

Incremental increases in the minimum wage won't address the underlying skills and investment gaps in Illinois.

- Bruce Rauner

Skills, Address, Increases, Gaps

If Republicans and Democrats commit to working together, we can reach a bipartisan, common-sense agreement to reverse Illinois' economic decline and set the stage for a bright economic future.

- Bruce Rauner

Agreement, Republicans, Set, Common-Sense

We need to focus on reducing property taxes. We need to focus on education funding. We need to focus on getting term limits on elected officials.

- Bruce Rauner

Need, Funding, Term Limits, Officials

Money's important, but it isn't a motivator for me.

- Bruce Rauner

Money, Me, Important, Motivator

Those who value a strong safety net for our neediest citizens see that every extra dollar spent on these unions is a dollar that cannot go to help the sick, the elderly, and the vulnerable.

- Bruce Rauner

Strong, Elderly, Unions, Extra

For many young people, the minimum wage is a stepping stone to higher employment levels.

- Bruce Rauner

Young, Minimum Wage, Levels

I am going to try to rip the economic guts out of Indiana. But we're going to do it methodically and aggressively.

- Bruce Rauner

Out, Going, Am, Rip

We have to reduce the tax burden, whether it's income tax for corporations or private individuals, and we should put a freeze on property taxes.

- Bruce Rauner

Income, Private, Reduce, Corporations

Where I'm an outsider is, I'm not a career politician.

- Bruce Rauner

Career, Politician, Where, Outsider

I certainly don't need a job. Getting re-elected is not on my Top 10 list.

- Bruce Rauner

Top, Getting, Certainly, Re-Elected

To restore our public schools, we must put an end to the selfish agenda of the union bosses.

- Bruce Rauner

Restore, Public, Schools, Agenda

I think we've got to be competitive here in Illinois. It's critical we're competitive. We're hurting our economy by having the minimum wage above the national. We've got to move back to the national.

- Bruce Rauner

Think, Here, Move, Hurting

I'm a pretty disciplined investor and pretty disciplined buyer. I do my due diligence. I do my homework. I don't waste money.

- Bruce Rauner

Waste, Pretty, Disciplined, Diligence

Voters want conflicting things. They want a lot of government spending, but they don't want higher taxes.

- Bruce Rauner

Government, Conflicting, Lot, Government Spending

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