Dana Perino Quotes

Powerful Dana Perino for Daily Growth

About Dana Perino

Dana Marie Perino, born on May 9, 1972, in Evanston, Wyoming, is a renowned American political commentator, public speaker, and former White House Press Secretary. She served under President George W. Bush from September 14, 2005, to January 20, 2009. Born to an Italian-American father and a Swiss-German mother, Perino was raised in Colorado and Wyoming. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications and Political Science from Colorado State University. Her early career began at KTVD Fox31 in Denver where she worked as a general assignment reporter and weekend morning news anchor. In 1996, Perino moved to Washington D.C. to work for the Republican National Committee and later joined CBS News as a Capitol Hill Producer. Her political career took off when she was hired by the Council on Environmental Quality during the George W. Bush administration. She served as the Deputy Press Secretary and later Press Secretary in the White House, becoming the second female to hold that position. Post-White House, Perino returned to Fox News Channel where she co-hosted The Five from 2011 to 2015. She currently hosts her own podcast, 'The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino.' In addition, she is a contributor for ABC News and serves as the host of I'll Tell You What on Radio America. Perino has written two bestselling books: 'And the Good News Is...: Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side' and 'Let Me Tell You About Jasper...Poignant Life Lessons for Kids from Dogs.' These works reflect her optimistic outlook on life, a quality that has defined her career and personality.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I always say that if you're not having fun, then you should find something else to do."

This quote emphasizes the importance of enjoyment and passion in our activities. Dana Perino suggests that one should engage only in tasks or pursuits that bring joy and pleasure, rather than choosing them out of obligation or for external validation. This perspective encourages individuals to pursue their interests wholeheartedly, fostering a sense of fulfillment and well-being.

"We can disagree without being disagreeable."

The quote "We can disagree without being disagreeable" emphasizes the importance of civil discourse, even when individuals hold differing opinions or beliefs. It suggests that it's possible to engage in discussions and debates about contentious issues while maintaining a respectful tone and avoiding personal attacks, fostering understanding and collaboration rather than hostility and division. Essentially, it highlights that constructive dialogue can enrich our perspectives and promote harmony among people with diverse views.

"The best way to get what you want is to deserve what you want."

This quote by Dana Perino emphasizes that achieving one's goals requires earning them through hard work, integrity, and deservingness. Simply wanting something isn't enough; it's essential to demonstrate value and worthiness in order to receive it. In other words, success comes not just from asking, but from proving oneself worthy of the ask.

"If you're prepared and you know what it takes, it's not a risk. You just have to decide it's worth it."

This quote by Dana Perino emphasizes that taking risks is less about the potential for failure and more about being well-prepared and understanding the costs involved. If one knows what they need to do, has prepared adequately, and believes in the worth of their endeavor, it's not a risk but rather an informed decision to move forward. It implies that being ready and knowledgeable can help reduce uncertainty and fear associated with risks, making them more manageable and potentially beneficial.

"I think there are two kinds of people in the world - those who like to start things and those who like to finish them."

This quote suggests that individuals can generally be categorized into two groups, based on their approach towards projects or tasks: starters and finishers. Starters are innovative, always seeking new ideas and initiating projects. Finishers, on the other hand, are focused on completing what they've started, ensuring tasks are finished thoroughly and to their satisfaction. Both approaches are essential in any collaborative environment as both innovation and completion contribute to the success of a project or idea.

To meet our troops was just wonderful, and I really, really admired the Iraqi security forces I met. I felt like, 'I'm pulling for you guys.' They want peace. They're working hard for it.

- Dana Perino

Iraqi Security, Iraqi, Our, Security Forces

I just think it's quite remarkable that everyone says they want to add more commentary to their news pages. In some ways, I think, 'Well, how is that even possible?' It seems sometimes that that's all that there is.

- Dana Perino

Sometimes, Some, I Think, Commentary

I've been in government and politics my entire career, and while I try to keep a level head and a reasonable tone in my commentary, even I can lose my head sometimes and let anger bubble over and burst out. It feels gross, looks ugly, and leaves a lasting mark.

- Dana Perino

Politics, Been, Feels, Commentary

My dad was a voracious news consumer. I remember just sitting with my family all the time. I would sit on his lap and read the paper with him. He would read it to me.

- Dana Perino

News, I Remember, Read, Voracious

The life my grandparents had was thoroughly American. They built a small ranch into a huge operation and fulfilled my great-grandparents' dreams. Theirs was... a simpler time of contentment and patriotism.

- Dana Perino

Small, Thoroughly, Built, Operation

If a political opponent has different approaches than mine, that doesn't make them a bad person. It means they have different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas.

- Dana Perino

Bad, Mine, Means, Backgrounds

I grew up admiring Ronald Reagan and Vice President Bush, and if I were old enough, I would have voted for 41. I was glad he won.

- Dana Perino

Vice, Reagan, Bush, Admiring

Starting in the third grade, my dad had me read the 'Denver Post.' I had to discuss two articles with him before dinner, and we would also watch '60 Minutes' together.

- Dana Perino

Before, Read, Dad, 60 Minutes

I don't know if people are born with a worldview or if their thinking is a product of their environment.

- Dana Perino

Environment, Product, Born, Worldview

Blaming alleged victims is not okay, no matter whose side starts it.

- Dana Perino

Okay, Side, Alleged, Blaming

One of the great joys in life is reading, yet it's the main thing people say they don't have time to do.

- Dana Perino

Reading, Main Thing, Main, Joys

One of the best ways to deal with the peer pressure of the 'Fear of Missing Out' is to opt-out whenever possible.

- Dana Perino

Best, Deal, Peer Pressure, Missing

Trump's campaign slogan resonates strongly with a large population of Americans. 'Make America Great Again' portrays a nostalgia for what America once was, and a longing desire to return to that time. Millennials unfortunately don't know first-hand that time which Trump is talking about.

- Dana Perino

Trump, Resonates, About, First-Hand

I am particularly interested in helping to heal women who have a fistula after their pregnancies.

- Dana Perino

Pregnancies, Particularly, Heal

You can tell a lot about a person just by watching their facial expressions. But there are times when it's best to hide your feelings, especially at work.

- Dana Perino

Work, Tell, About, Expressions

Many young adults I have communicated with - both in-person and over email - constantly apologize before stating their idea, or finish each sentence with a question. Unfortunately, doing so in business puts you at an immediate disadvantage with your boss and work colleagues.

- Dana Perino

Boss, Doing, Young, Apologize

I've traveled to many countries in Africa, and to me, Benin felt the most hopeful.

- Dana Perino

Me, Africa, Most, Traveled

I love to drive in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota with Mount Rushmore as the central stop.

- Dana Perino

Love, South Dakota, Dakota, Mount

Young people really want you to give them a road map, and they will follow it to a tee. If you tell them, 'These are the eight steps you have to take to be successful,' they will do all eight very earnestly.

- Dana Perino

Young, Tell, Very, Map

I loved the writing process. I loved it.

- Dana Perino

Writing, Process, Loved, Writing Process

I talk about millennials with a healthy dose of humility, as I'm a card-carrying member of Generation X. But I have daily interaction with young people at Dana Perino & Co., through my Minute Mentoring organization, with digital friends on social media, and especially at Fox News.

- Dana Perino

Humility, Young, Through, Dose

Inauguration Day is like two ships passing in the night: the new staff moving in while the other walks out, taking one final look at the White House lawn as they leave with their cardboard box of possessions.

- Dana Perino

Box, Other, While, Ships

One time, on Marine One, the president asked me my opinion. I had a flashback to being at the kitchen table with my dad. That dominant male figure set me up for being confident to express myself with precision and persuasion.

- Dana Perino

Confident, Precision, Dad, Kitchen Table

The Flight 93 Memorial isn't that easy to get to. It isn't like the memorials in New York City or Washington, D.C., where you may go on a business trip or family vacation. No, in order to get to Shanksville, PA, you fly to Pittsburgh, make your way through the traffic and onto the highway that takes you through the beautiful wooded countryside.

- Dana Perino

City, Flight, Through, Vacation

I think there is room out there to show the grace and dignity of women like Laura Bush.

- Dana Perino

Think, Like, I Think, Laura

Like most conservatives, my path was a bit meandering. I grew up around people who mostly held conservative or libertarian views. The liberals I knew were fairly quiet about it, or at least I don't remember it being very heavy-handed.

- Dana Perino

Conservative, Very, Mostly, Libertarian

The two candidates have very different visions of America. Donald Trump's is very dark: Things are not going well. There are dark days ahead unless you make a change, and he's the one to fix it.

- Dana Perino

Trump, Very, Donald, Visions

I respect all women who came before me to blaze trails into the workplace for us.

- Dana Perino

Before, Trails, All Women, Blaze

I think a lot of women, especially ones that want to achieve career goals, tend to worry. I don't want anyone to worry their life away - time goes by so fast, and worry is really wasted time and energy.

- Dana Perino

Career, Away, I Think, Goals

The first presidential election I really paid attention to was in 1988 when George H. W. Bush ran against Michael Dukakis.

- Dana Perino

Election, Against, Bush, Presidential

For as long as I can remember, we've been having debates about the foreign policy disasters and seemingly unsolvable problems around the world. Dinner conversations are replayed over generations - nothing seems to get better, and in some aspects, it seems dramatically worse, and that is especially true for women.

- Dana Perino

Some, Been, Generations, Debates

Part of the great thing of looking back on how I went from the cattle ranch to the White House was, I was a country music DJ. I saw Garth Brooks perform for free in 1992 at the Colorado State Fair where I met this person who knew about this graduate school program.

- Dana Perino

Looking Back, DJ, Country, Graduate School

I get a choice every time I have to open my mouth: that it can be with civility and dignity and grace - or not.

- Dana Perino

Civility, Mouth, Get, Every Time

Sarcasm is like cheap wine - it leaves a terrible aftertaste.

- Dana Perino

Sarcasm, Like, Leaves, Wine

I love road trips. If you haven't been on one in a while, it's time to put a trip on your calendar. Driving can help clear the cobwebs of your mind, and you can learn a lot about your fellow Americans while you're at it.

- Dana Perino

Love, Been, About, Trips

A key component of social media is 'following' - and no one is there to see what you have to say on Instagram or Twitter if they aren't motivated to follow you.

- Dana Perino

Say, Motivated, Social, Social Media

In Benin, there's a thing that family members wear the same pattern of traditional African clothing.

- Dana Perino

Same, Traditional, African, Family Members

I've never seen anything so abhorrent in my life as Harry Reid. He's an equal opportunity basher. He goes after everybody, and I think it has been so, frankly, disgusting.

- Dana Perino

My Life, Been, Everybody, Abhorrent

I understood early on that the freedom of America is what made our way of life possible and that we should help other people live in freedom, too.

- Dana Perino

Possible, Other, Made, Understood

It's one of my favorite seasons of the year: Back to School. As a kid, I loved fresh school supplies, new outfits, the change of seasons, and the chance to crack open a new textbook.

- Dana Perino

New, Seasons, Textbook, Fresh

The Mexicans are not going to build the wall... they're not going to do it.

- Dana Perino

Build, Wall, Going, Mexicans

I could actually be somebody that, if you showed me new gun-control legislation could help solve this problem, I might actually be able to support something like that.

- Dana Perino

New, Like, Could, Legislation

I don't think that I would always be asked about my feelings about liberal bias in the media if there wasn't any liberal bias in the media. If it was a moot question, then we wouldn't always have the discussion.

- Dana Perino

Think, Question, Always, Feelings

Conservatives are charitable, forgiving, and are always - always - more willing to laugh at themselves.

- Dana Perino

More, Always, Conservatives, Laugh

Ann Coulter is very popular. She has got a niche. She is a best selling author, but she does not represent Republican women.

- Dana Perino

Republican, Very, Author, Represent

Conservatism by its very nature is compassionate.

- Dana Perino

Nature, Very, Conservatism, Compassionate

Vulnerable young women are being brainwashed by the radical lies of ISIS militants in the Middle East.

- Dana Perino

Young Women, Brainwashed, Women Are

There's no job that will humble you like the White House press secretary job.

- Dana Perino

Humble, White, Secretary, White House

Never refuse a breath mint - you don't know why it's being offered.

- Dana Perino

Never, Breath, Refuse, Mint

I am a pretty level-headed person, but that person, Harry Reid, has been the most destructive entity in Washington when it comes to civility. By far.

- Dana Perino

Civility, Pretty, Been, Entity

My dad met my mom at Casper College in the orientation line. He studied business and eventually transferred to the University of Wyoming at Laramie.

- Dana Perino

College, Orientation, Wyoming

On election night 2000, I had never met then-Governor Bush, though I'd supported him for years. I believed he would be a strong, optimistic and gracious president with solid conservative principles and a big heart.

- Dana Perino

Strong, Conservative, Big, Big Heart

You tax Mexico? The president of the United States is going to tax Mexico to get a wall for the United States of America? I'm pointing out the absurdity of a lot of these comments.

- Dana Perino

Comments, United States, Pointing

Even President Obama has not suggested he could get another country to pay for building a wall between Mexico and the United States.

- Dana Perino

Country, United States, Suggested

Commanders-in-chief make really tough decisions.

- Dana Perino

Tough, Tough Decisions, Make, Decisions

I think it is very good for the country, for the world, and especially for the Democrats that Harry Reid is retiring.

- Dana Perino

Think, Country, Very, Reid

I love my right-wing friends, my practical friends, my bleeding heart friends - without all of these viewpoints, life would be pretty boring.

- Dana Perino

Love, Pretty, Practical, Viewpoints

I feel like there should be a statute of limitations on scoring political points on the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina.

- Dana Perino

Feel, Like, Scoring, Hurricane

At some point, you're going to have to be willing to take a punch for your team. If your employees or your teammates will see that you're willing to do that, they are more likely to be loyal to you, and your team is more likely to function better.

- Dana Perino

Some, Going, Likely, Employees

New Year's Eve is a great time to think about making a resolution to change a behavior, improve upon a practice, or to start something new. Most people don't keep their resolutions very far into the year, but there's no reason to wait until Dec 31st to reboot.

- Dana Perino

Practice, Reason, Very, No Reason

I have a fascination with Flight 93. My emotions are mixed: awe, gratitude, fear, heartache, pride - even, in some ways, guilt.

- Dana Perino

Guilt, Flight, Some, Awe

My great-grandmother lived to be 100 years old, so I got to know her. She always sent us birthday cards that had $2 bills inside - we kept them for good luck.

- Dana Perino

Birthday, Luck, Cards, 100 Years

A lot of people think that public speaking means that you are standing at a podium giving a speech, but public speaking comes in lots of different formats.

- Dana Perino

Think, Means, Formats, Podium

People really think that the only way I got to be press secretary is because I somehow had a personal family connection to the Bushes or the Cheneys, and that wasn't true.

- Dana Perino

Think, Personal, Had, Press

I personally have a pretty open philosophy about trying to talk to the press, and so does Dan Bartlett.

- Dana Perino

Philosophy, Pretty, About, Press

As a press secretary and on 'The Five,' I've learned that I have a choice in how I answer a question. There's combative or productive - I get to take my pick.

- Dana Perino

Question, Learned, Combative, Press

President Obama was never going repeal Obamacare - he was not going to be brought to his knees with the threat of a government shutdown.

- Dana Perino

Going, Knees, Brought, President Obama

Good governance, safety, a chance to grow economically and professionally - those are important things.

- Dana Perino

Chance, Grow, Governance

Reality TV is easier to digest if it comes in small amounts.

- Dana Perino

Small, TV, Small Amounts, Easier

Millennials are a very interesting generation for a lot of reasons. They're absolutely adorable, but they have some significant challenges. Their lives and their careers are delayed by about 10 years, partly because of the recession, also because of technology and also because of the way that they approach things.

- Dana Perino

Some, Very, Reasons, Recession

The realities are, there are - you can be entertaining and you can be fun, and you can say things that actually appeal to people. You still have to figure out a way to get to 270 electoral votes. Get votes in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

- Dana Perino

Iowa, Hampshire, South, Votes

Just as I try to find ways to be more productive every year for myself, I also look for tips to pass on to young professionals.

- Dana Perino

Young, Year, Pass, Productive

Being a conservative has given me clarity; it's given me freedom - my mind is free; therefore, my heart is lighter. And that's a gift from God that I believe we have an obligation to share with others.

- Dana Perino

Gift, Mind, Given, Obligation

People like to talk about their hometowns and their travels, and the more places you've been, the more likely you'll be able to make a connection that can bring new business leads or career opportunities.

- Dana Perino

New, Been, Likely, Connection

We are so blessed to be here in America. We have freedom and opportunity unlike anywhere else in the world.

- Dana Perino

Freedom, World, Here, Unlike

I have been a Republican, and I've worked in Republican circles for so long, and I know that there are really smart, good policy ideas that are grounded in conservative ideology that could be persuasive for women, especially in an election where no one was really excited about either candidate.

- Dana Perino

Republican, Been, Persuasive, Candidate

Your goal as a candidate - define others before they can define you.

- Dana Perino

Goal, Define, Before, Candidate

My dad got me hooked on the news. That was a good thing.

- Dana Perino

News, A Good Thing, Dad, Hooked

Humans can make friends easily if they are open to it and are interested in other people.

- Dana Perino

Other, Interested, Easily, Humans

I would like to have a right not to have an opinion. I don't want to have to care about everything.

- Dana Perino

Want, Like, Would, Opinion

Millennials are the future of our country and of our political parties, and they shouldn't be unfairly characterized or labeled. They deserve to be heard.

- Dana Perino

Country, Characterized, Parties

It isn't always on the front pages, but the horrifying mistreatment and subjugation of women around the globe is very much worthy of more attention.

- Dana Perino

More, Always, Very, Globe

When a president speaks, it's to multiple audiences.

- Dana Perino

President, Speaks, Multiple, Audiences

Civility is a choice.

- Dana Perino

Choice, Civility

I loved the Sunday funnies, and then, as I got a little bit older, I think my dad recognized that it was important for children, and especially girls, to have that time with their dad so that they could help develop their confidence and their critical thinking skills.

- Dana Perino

Critical, I Think, Dad, Sunday

I was raised to believe that America was a force for good in the world and that it should take its leadership role seriously.

- Dana Perino

Believe, Role, Raised, Force

If you're a Republican woman, you're mostly on your own when it comes to support from traditional women's groups.

- Dana Perino

Woman, Republican, Mostly, Traditional

I never thought I would write a memoir at age 40... but I did have this unique place in history.

- Dana Perino

History, Thought, Never, Memoir

My biggest point to everybody is you have a responsibility to build your own network.

- Dana Perino

Build, Everybody, Biggest, Network

The most important thing that everybody can do, aside from building and keeping your network strong, is make good choices about your health.

- Dana Perino

Strong, The Most Important, Network

Once you break someone of the habit of up-talking, they can start to see immediate improvement in their careers.

- Dana Perino

Habit, See, Careers, Immediate

Everyone learns from their experiences.

- Dana Perino

Experiences, Everyone, Learns

There is freedom in forgiveness, and it's not that hard to do once you get into the habit.

- Dana Perino

Forgiveness, Freedom, Once, Habit

I believe that leaders should inspire you to be more like them.

- Dana Perino

More, Like, Should, Inspire

There are times, especially on 'The Five,' where I've lost control for a moment. I always feel bad about it, but those always seem to be the times that people realize, if I'm mad about something, it must really matter.

- Dana Perino

Bad, Feel, About, Mad

You're not going to bring back all the jobs from China.

- Dana Perino

Bring, Going, Jobs, China

When you're the president of the United States, you have no money unless the Congress says, 'Here's what you can spend it on.'

- Dana Perino

Money, Here, United States, Congress

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