Dick Cheney Quotes

Powerful Dick Cheney for Daily Growth

About Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney, born Richard Bruce Cheney on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, served as the 46th Vice President of the United States under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Known for his political acumen and influence behind the scenes, Cheney's career spans over four decades in public service. Raised in Casper, Wyoming, Cheney studied political science at Yale University, graduating in 1964. His early years in politics were marked by a series of staff roles in Congress, culminating in his appointment as White House Chief of Staff during the Ford administration from 1975 to 1977. Cheney's political rise gained momentum when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, representing Wyoming for ten years. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed Cheney as Secretary of Defense, a role he held until 1993. In 2000, Cheney was selected as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, winning alongside George W. Bush in the general election. His tenure as vice president was marked by increased powers and influence in foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding the war on terror following the September 11 attacks. Post-White House, Cheney co-authored the memoir "Exceptional: Why the American Experience Matters in the World of Tomorrow" with Lindsay Graham in 2015. He remains active in political circles and continues to share insights on national security, foreign policy, and domestic affairs. Throughout his career, Cheney's influence has been significant, leaving a lasting impact on American politics and foreign policy, particularly during his time as Vice President.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I have other priorities in life, and a considerably greater number of them are actual priorities."

This quote by Dick Cheney highlights his personal values and focus on important matters rather than trivial ones. He emphasizes that he has multiple responsibilities and commitments that truly matter to him, implying a discerning approach in prioritizing his time and efforts.

"We don't need to discuss guilt or innocence – we're interested in confidence."

This quote suggests that Dick Cheney, when he made this statement, was more concerned with assessing a person's capability or reliability (confidence), rather than their moral blameworthiness (guilt or innocence). In other words, the focus is not on whether someone has done wrong, but rather on whether they have the ability to perform a task effectively or consistently. This perspective can be applied in various contexts such as hiring, diplomacy, or strategic decision-making.

"If it's not going to be a slam dunk, you've got to ask yourself if it's worth doing."

This quote by Dick Cheney suggests that one should carefully consider the potential outcomes before engaging in an action or decision-making process, particularly when the consequences are uncertain or potentially risky. He emphasizes that if the expected outcome does not seem assured ("slam dunk"), it's important to weigh whether the endeavor is worth pursuing. The quote highlights the importance of prudence and careful consideration in decision-making, especially in circumstances where success may not be guaranteed.

"The American people are asleep on this issue. They have no idea what's really happening."

This quote suggests that former Vice President Dick Cheney believed the general public was unaware or not fully informed about a specific issue, implying a need for increased education and awareness among the American people to ensure they can make well-informed decisions regarding national matters. It implies a concern that the lack of knowledge could have significant consequences.

"You can't let politics get in the way of governing the country."

This quote by Dick Cheney emphasizes the importance of putting national interests above political interests when it comes to leading a country. It suggests that for effective governance, politicians should prioritize the welfare and stability of their nation over party affiliations or personal ambitions. In essence, Cheney is encouraging leaders to approach governance as a responsibility rather than an opportunity for political gain.

When George Bush asked me to sign on, it obviously wasn't because he was worried about carrying Wyoming. We got 70 percent of the vote in Wyoming, although those three electoral votes turned out to be pretty important last time around.

- Dick Cheney

Electoral, Turned, Bush, Last Time

It's not just Bin Laden or just those that are involved in the counterterrorism effort. We've gotta cast the net broader than that. But I think it's a - very special tribute that we all owe to the bravery and courage of the men and women in the intelligence and military business who performed so well to finally get it done.

- Dick Cheney

Effort, I Think, Very, Bin

The relevance for 9/11 is that what 9/11 marked was the beginning of a struggle in which the terrorists come at us and strike us here on our home territory. And it's a global operation. It doesn't know national boundaries or national borders.

- Dick Cheney

Here, Marked, Which, Operation

I think the key that happened on 9/11 is we went from considering terrorist attacks as a law enforcement problem to considering terrorist attacks, especially on the scale we have on 9/11, as being an act of war.

- Dick Cheney

Law, Think, I Think, Considering

I think that freedom means freedom for everyone. As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay, and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish.

- Dick Cheney

Long, I Think, Our, Freedom Means

There comes a time when deceit and defiance must be seen for what they are. At that point, a gathering danger must be directly confronted. At that point, we must show that beyond our resolutions is actual resolve.

- Dick Cheney

Resolve, Show, Actual, Directly

I worked for George Bush. I'm proud to have worked for him. I think that a lot of the most controversial things we did, that people didn't like and - and criticized us for, things like the terror surveillance program or the enhanced interrogation techniques, were things that allowed us to save lives.

- Dick Cheney

I Think, Bush, Allowed, Criticized

If we have reason to believe someone is preparing an attack against the U.S., has developed that capability, harbours those aspirations, then I think the U.S. is justified in dealing with that, if necessary, by military force.

- Dick Cheney

Think, Reason, I Think, Aspirations

The United States needs to be not so much loved as it needs to be respected. Sometimes, that requires us to take actions that generate controversy. I'm not at all sure that that's what the Obama administration believes.

- Dick Cheney

Needs, Sure, United States, Generate

In terms of asking questions, I plead guilty. I ask a hell of a lot of questions. That's my job.

- Dick Cheney

Questions, Hell, Asking, Plead

Like many Americans, I've always been intrigued by Bill Clinton. I obviously didn't always agree with him - enjoyed running against his legacy in 2000, when Al Gore was his designated successor, but I don't have anything negative I would say about Bill Clinton.

- Dick Cheney

Legacy, Been, Successor, Intrigued

I was convinced that eventually I would die of heart disease, that we'd run out of time and out of treatment, the technology wouldn't keep ahead of my disease. And now all of the sudden, when you get the new heart, your life opens up before you again.

- Dick Cheney

Die, Before, Treatment, Opens

Westerners know the difference between a talker and the real deal. If Rick Perry wasn't right to be governor of Texas, why should he be president?

- Dick Cheney

Why, Deal, Talker, Rick

The Iraqi forces are conducting the Mother of all Retreats.

- Dick Cheney

Mother, Forces, Iraqi, Retreats

You can't fall back on the private sector and say, 'You take care of the nation's banking system.' That's a fundamental function of the government, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC, etc. All of those agencies have a major role to play there.

- Dick Cheney

Play, Private, Major Role, Banking System

President Bush gave me a tremendous opportunity to serve as the vice president. I enjoyed very much having the opportunity to be a part of his team. He told me at the outset, he wanted me to sign on to be a part of his team - and he was true to his word, kept it. He was tough. He was decisive. He was also a pretty good politician.

- Dick Cheney

Very, Outset, Bush, Vice President

The plan was criticized by some retired military officers embedded in TV studios. But with every advance by our coalition forces, the wisdom of that plan becomes more apparent.

- Dick Cheney

Some, Studios, TV, Apparent

I've been extraordinarily fortunate that I've been able to go live a very active, stressful life. And I don't believe that my heart disease changed me for the worst.

- Dick Cheney

Disease, Been, Very, Changed

The good Lord didn't see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratically elected regimes friendly to the United States. Occasionally we have to operate in places where, all considered, one would not normally choose to go. But we go where the business is.

- Dick Cheney

United, Friendly, Considered, Regimes

It's very important to go back and keep in mind the distinction between handling these events as criminal acts, which was the way we did before 9/11, and then looking at 9/11 and saying, 'This is not a criminal act,' not when you destroy 16 acres of Manhattan, kill 3,000 Americans, blow a big hole in the Pentagon. That's an act of war.

- Dick Cheney

Big, Very, Distinction, Blow

The Senator from Massachusetts has given us ample grounds to doubt the judgment and the attitude he brings to bear on vital issues of national security.

- Dick Cheney

Doubt, Issues, Given, Massachusetts

I think the record speaks for itself. These are two individuals who have been for the war when the headlines were good and against it when their poll ratings were bad.

- Dick Cheney

Think, Been, I Think, Ratings

A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years of being on the wrong side of defense issues.

- Dick Cheney

Part, Side, Wrong Side, Presidential

I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been during the first term when we stripped Libya and Iraq and A.Q. Khan and their capacity to proliferate nuclear technology.

- Dick Cheney

Been, Second Term, Stripped, Libya

We were trying to get all of the planes down out of the sky. And we watched as the towers of the World Trade Center collapsed - something no one expected and anticipated. And you could sit there and see and be aware that thousands of people were at that moment being killed as a result of the terrorist attacks that struck the United States.

- Dick Cheney

United, World Trade Center, Struck

I'd spent 25 years in government when I left the Defense Department back in '93, decided I'd go spend the rest of my career in the private sector, and then the president tapped me to come be his running mate. And it's been a remarkable experience. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

- Dick Cheney

Career, Private, Been, Department

I think we need a very, very serious effort, primarily through tax policy to provide incentives and encouragement for people to save and invest and expand their businesses and to create more jobs. The kind of thing we did in the early Reagan years, 30 years ago. I think that's essential.

- Dick Cheney

Through, I Think, Very, Businesses

We need to have a pro-growth policy put in place that offers people hope and offers the opportunity for businesses to expand and for them to have confidence in what the world is going to look like for the next two or three or four years with respect to economic policy.

- Dick Cheney

Hope, Two, Next, Businesses

If you're going to go increase taxes on small businesses, you're going to slow down the extent to which we're able to reduce unemployment. So I think it's a serious mistake; the wrong time to raise taxes.

- Dick Cheney

Small, I Think, Extent, Businesses

I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.

- Dick Cheney

Find, Oftentimes, Would, Base

No, I've always been impressed with the tremendous resilience of the American economy. I think over the years, over the decades, it's demonstrated this tremendous ability to take severe body blows, if you will, and bounce back.

- Dick Cheney

Bounce, Been, I Think, Decades

I reached a point towards the end on the old heart where I had trouble getting out of a chair. All I wanted to do was get out of bed in the morning and walk to my office and sit back down in the chair. Now I throw 50 pound bags of horse feed in the back of my pickup truck and I don't even think about it. I'm back doing those things.

- Dick Cheney

Doing, Bed, Bags, Pound

I think I was able to survive five heart attacks because I never postponed going to the hospital when something didn't feel right.

- Dick Cheney

Think, Survive, I Think, To Survive

We urge all democratic nations and the United Nations to answer the Iraqi Governing Council's call for support for the people of Iraq in making the transition to democracy.

- Dick Cheney

Making, United Nations, Iraq, Transition

The only thing left that shows I was a heart patient is I have a scar down the middle of my chest where they went in three times to do open heart surgery. I have a brand new heart inside, and all the mechanical and electronic gear and so forth is all gone.

- Dick Cheney

Mechanical, The Only Thing, Electronic

And the fact of the matter is there were thousands of people that went through those training camps in Afghanistan. We know they are seeking deadlier weapons - chemical, biological and nuclear weapons if they can get it.

- Dick Cheney

Training, Fact, Through, Weapons

It used to be you needed to have a very large sophisticated state before you could even have a nuclear weapon... Now the technology is widespread enough. It doesn't take very many people to be able to cobble together a devastating attack, and all it takes is one.

- Dick Cheney

Sophisticated, Before, Very, Widespread

There's every reason to believe there will be further attacks attempted against the United States. For us to spend so much time patting ourselves on the back because we got bin Laden that we miss the next attack would be a terrible tragedy.

- Dick Cheney

Reason, Next, United, Attempted

The Federal Reserve, the Treasury, all the regulator agencies - if there's a problem of the financial mechanism in society, the only one to fix it is government. They've got a legitimate role.

- Dick Cheney

Financial, Role, Agencies, Treasury

I think there's no question but what the tail end of the Bush administration, Bush-Cheney administration, that we took steps specifically geared to try and free up the financial sector.

- Dick Cheney

Think, No Question, Took, Specifically

I mean, it's not just one day you get up, bang, and you got Osama bin Laden. It's the kind of thing where an awful lot of people over a long period of time - thousands have worked this case and these issues and followed on the leads and captured bad guys and interrogated them and so-forth.

- Dick Cheney

Bad, Awful Lot, Long Period, Case

You know, I've got experiences going back to the wage price controls in the Nixon administration where, in effect, we had what I think was a terrible mistake, in that case a Republican administration, where moved in and tried to control the wages, prices and profits of every enterprise in America. It was a huge mistake.

- Dick Cheney

Controls, I Think, Nixon, Case

We've gotten a long way on missile defense. We know how to do it. We know how to take down incoming warheads, but we need to do a lot more work in order to be - to deploy a system that'll defend the United States against those kinds of limited strikes that might be possible by a nuclear armed North Korea or Iran.

- Dick Cheney

Against, United, Gotten, Order

In his years in Washington, Senator Kerry has been one vote of a hundred in the United States Senate - and fortunately on matters of national security he was very often in the minority.

- Dick Cheney

Been, United States, Very, Minority

From kindergarten to graduation, I went to public schools, and I know that they are a key to being sure that every child has a chance to succeed and to rise in the world.

- Dick Cheney

Education, Kindergarten, Key

I got to be White House chief of staff, ten years of congressman, secretary of defense, vice-president. If you're a political junkie like I obviously am - that was - every one of those was just a tremendous experience. I'm very comfortable with what I did and why I did it and how I did it. And I'll let others judge whether they liked it or not.

- Dick Cheney

Why, Very, Vice-President, White House

I'm one of those people who believes that part of the greatness of the United States is our private sector. It's what we do as private citizens for ourselves and our companies. And our economy is essentially the wonder of the world because, in fact, it's produced so much for us over the years. That's not government that does that.

- Dick Cheney

Fact, United, Private, Produced

Our adversaries - our Democratic adversaries - like to be able to portray the Republican Party as a bunch of wingnuts - narrow based, always have some agenda that's not attractive to the public... That's easier for them, and more fun, than dealing with their own problems. And I think their problems are significant.

- Dick Cheney

Republican, Some, I Think, Agenda

From our perspective, trying to deal with this continuing campaign of terror, if you will, the war on terror that we're engaged in, this is a continuing enterprise. The people that were involved in some of those activities before 9/11 are still out there.

- Dick Cheney

Some, Deal, Engaged, Continuing

I'm absolutely convinced that the threat we face now, the idea of a terrorist in the middle of one of our cities with a nuclear weapon, is very real and that we have to use extraordinary measures to deal with it.

- Dick Cheney

Middle, Deal, Very, Terrorist

One of the reasons the deficit got as big as it did, frankly, was because of the economic slowdown, the fall-off in deficits, the terrorist attacks. A significant chunk was taken out of the economy by what happened after the attacks of 9/11.

- Dick Cheney

Big, Reasons, Deficits, Terrorist

I had a reputation of being somewhat moderate, partly, I think, because I wasn't a 'bomb thrower' like some of my conservative colleagues, and partly because I got along with people all across the political spectrum.

- Dick Cheney

Conservative, Some, I Think, Moderate

I think Barack Obama is a one-term President.

- Dick Cheney

Think, I Think, Barack, None

I don't pay a lot of attention, frankly, to what Barack Obama says.

- Dick Cheney

Lot, Frankly, Barack, None

You cannot be driven by the polls. The polls change all the time; they're easily manipulated by whoever wants to ask those poll questions; they go up; they go down.

- Dick Cheney

Change, Questions, Go, Manipulated

I've been criticized because I've had the temerity to speak out and done a couple of interviews since I left office. I don't find anything surprising about that.

- Dick Cheney

Been, Couple, About, Criticized

I think we need to significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the private sector. The Obama administration is doing the opposite. They're loading on more and more regulation on the private respect to how the economy functions.

- Dick Cheney

Doing, Private, I Think, Obama Administration

You got to have people at the top who respond to and are selected by presidents.

- Dick Cheney

Top, Got, Presidents, Respond

I've worked for four presidents and watched two others up close, and I know that there's no such thing as a routine day in the Oval Office.

- Dick Cheney

Office, Oval, Presidents, Close

I am a deficit hawk.

- Dick Cheney

I Am, Hawk, Am, Deficit

Had the decision belonged to Senator Kerry, Saddam hussein would still be in power today in Iraq. In fact, Saddam Hussein would almost certainly still be in control of Kuwait.

- Dick Cheney

Still, Certainly, Kuwait, Senator

Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.

- Dick Cheney

Makes, Whole, Kerry, Senator

I can think of a lot of words to describe Senator Kerry's position on Iraq; 'consistent' is not one of them.

- Dick Cheney

Words, Think, Iraq, Senator

I - obviously, I'm not a big fan of President Obama. I think he's been one of our weakest presidents. I just fundamentally disagree with him philosophically.

- Dick Cheney

Think, Big, Been, President Obama

Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy.

- Dick Cheney

Conservation, May, Sufficient

The Columbia is lost, but the dreams that inspired its crew remain with us.

- Dick Cheney

Dreams, Lost, Remain, Columbia

Except for the occasional heart attack, I never felt better.

- Dick Cheney

Never, Better, Felt, Attack

One of the worst things we could do is start to act now as though the attack of 9/11 is a thing of the past and will never be repeated. That's just not true.

- Dick Cheney

Will, Could, Though, Attack

As I think about the future, I'm back where most people live their lives. Which is, death is not imminent, and that's different.

- Dick Cheney

Think, I Think, Which, Imminent

I believe very deeply in the proposition that what we did in Iraq was the right thing to do. It was hard to do. It took a long time. There were significant costs involved.

- Dick Cheney

Costs, Very, Took, Proposition

Direct threats require decisive action.

- Dick Cheney

Decisive Action, Direct, Decisive

We must be prepared to face our responsibilities and be willing to use force if necessary.

- Dick Cheney

Face, Prepared, Necessary, Responsibilities

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.

- Dick Cheney

Liberty, Never, Take, Easy

My own belief is that the way we grow the economy, create jobs, create wealth is in the private sector. The government doesn't do that.

- Dick Cheney

Wealth, Grow, Private, Private Sector

I did my 40 years in Washington, 40-plus, and it's time to pause and reflect and think about what I've seen and done.

- Dick Cheney

Think, Done, About, Washington

No matter what kind of problem I've run into, there's always been a solution for it. Now, obviously, there will be a point where there aren't any more solutions, and I'll have used up my time. We all do.

- Dick Cheney

Run, Used, Been, My Time

Reagan proved deficits don't matter.

- Dick Cheney

Matter, Proved, Reagan, Deficits

I'm not apologetic with respect to the policies of the Bush administration. I think we basically got it right.

- Dick Cheney

Think, I Think, Apologetic, Basically

We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.

- Dick Cheney

Fact, Will, In Fact

I wake up every morning literally with a smile on my face, grateful for another day I never thought I'd see.

- Dick Cheney

Grateful, Thought, Literally, Every

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.