Sam Brownback Quotes

Powerful Sam Brownback for Daily Growth

About Sam Brownback

Samuel D. Brownback is a notable American politician, diplomat, and author, born on April 13, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas. He is best known for his lengthy political career that spans across various roles, including the Governor of Kansas (2011-2018), United States Senator from Kansas (1996-2011), and as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom under President Donald Trump (2018-2021). Brownback's political journey began in 1974 when he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives at the age of 23. He went on to serve three terms in the Kansas Senate before taking a break from politics to work as the director of the Kansas Republican Party from 1986-1990. In 1996, Brownback was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served for five terms. During his tenure, he co-authored several significant pieces of legislation, including the Permanent Normal Trade Relations status for China and the USA PATRIOT Act. He also advocated for faith-based initiatives and served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations' Subcommittee on African Affairs. As Governor of Kansas, Brownback implemented tax cuts that reduced income taxes by 20%, which led to a significant budget deficit and a reversal of these policies after his departure from office. In addition to his political career, Brownback has also authored several books, including "Call His Name Jesus" (1987) and "Plunging Headfirst" (1995), which reflect his strong religious beliefs and conservative values. Brownback's political career and writings have been heavily influenced by his deep-rooted Christian faith, which has guided many of his policy decisions and public stances on various issues. His legacy continues to resonate in American politics and diplomacy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

This quote by Sam Brownback reflects a sentiment commonly found in libertarian and limited-government perspectives, suggesting that excessive government intervention can exacerbate social and economic problems rather than solve them. It argues that often, governments may create complexities, bureaucracies, and inefficiencies that hinder innovation, individual freedoms, and personal responsibility – all of which can contribute to the very issues they aim to address. The quote advocates for smaller, more streamlined government and increased reliance on individual initiative and private sector solutions.


"We must recognize that every child is a unique image of God and must be loved and valued as such."

This quote emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of every child, acknowledging each one as a distinct reflection of the divine. It encourages us to treat all children with love, respect, and compassion, recognizing their unique qualities and inherent value as human beings.


"We must have the courage to chart a new course, to do what's right rather than what is expedient or politically convenient."

This quote emphasizes the importance of making principled decisions that align with one's values, even if they are challenging or unpopular. It encourages individuals to take a bold stance for what is morally correct, rather than succumbing to pressures or circumstances that might sway them towards easy or politically advantageous choices. In essence, it calls for leadership characterized by courage and integrity.


"The role of government is to create an environment where people can live their lives, pursue their dreams, and find opportunities for success."

Sam Brownback's quote emphasizes a minimalist approach to governance, suggesting that the primary function of the government is to establish a conducive atmosphere for citizens. This includes providing essential services, ensuring safety, and fostering a stable economic environment. By doing so, individuals can focus on their personal goals, aspirations, and opportunities for success - all within the framework of a well-governed society.


"Freedom means that every individual has the right to control his or her own life and destiny, free from arbitrary interference by other individuals or the state."

This quote by Sam Brownback emphasizes the core idea of freedom as an inherent right for all individuals, which allows them to determine their own lives and destinies without unjustified intervention from others or the government. It underscores the importance of personal liberty and self-determination in a society where every individual's unique potential can be realized freely and fairly.


I think the real needs in the country are for cultural renewal.

- Sam Brownback

Think, Cultural, Needs, Renewal

I support strongly the expansion of nuclear power because that is one of the key ways of getting electricity generated and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

- Sam Brownback

Electricity, Expansion, Nuclear Power

I went to law school with a plan of going back home and practicing law to support my farming, and Dad said, 'There's just not room here for us.' So I took off to practice law and got involved in some politics, and the rest just moved on forward.

- Sam Brownback

Politics, Here, Some, Moved On

There is a disturbing reincarnation of socialist and nationalist dictatorships raising their heads around the world and even in our own back yard. You see it in places like Venezuela and Bolivia, stoked in no small part by Cuba, and also in Central Asia, and troubling trends in Russia and China.

- Sam Brownback

Small, Own, Yard, Stoked

I do not support a North American Union. I disagree fundamentally with that, and I think the United States should be governing itself and not being governed by multilateral unions, the United Nations.

- Sam Brownback

Think, Unions, United States, North American

One of the greatest gifts God ever gave to humanity was that of liberty. We love freedom and bloom under it. We cannot and should not try to force people to live by a certain religious code. To do so negates our free will.

- Sam Brownback

Love, Religious, Code, Bloom

Let's create a legal system that can work.

- Sam Brownback

Work, Legal, System, Legal System

I do think the Obama agenda is the furthest left agenda we've seen since probably LBJ and the Great Society. And the differences have been that instead of him trying to go center-left, he's gone - in my estimation - more left. He's shown the country a much more aggressive liberal, more European style agenda, and that's on a center-right country.

- Sam Brownback

Differences, Country, Been, Aggressive

BRAC originated in the 1960s under President Kennedy as the Department of Defense (DOD) had to realign its base structure after World War II and the Korean War. At that time, the DOD was able to close bases without congressional interference, and 60 bases were closed in the 1960s.

- Sam Brownback

Without, Had, Congressional, President Kennedy

Our focus is on helping people develop the skills to find and keep a job. Instead of focusing on a war against poverty, we will focus on fighting for the poor among us by offering them hope and opportunity.

- Sam Brownback

Will, Against, Helping, Helping People

I think the United Nations is a useful format to discuss matters, but I think it's a weak institution in being able to carry out matters and, in many respects even, it has been harmful on things like human rights.

- Sam Brownback

United, Been, I Think, Harmful

Prioritizing spending and maximizing the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars is absolutely essential. We must draw the line, realigning programs when necessary and also eliminating failed programs.

- Sam Brownback

Effectiveness, Necessary, Maximizing

I enjoyed working with Ted Kennedy.

- Sam Brownback

Working, Ted, Kennedy, None

Federal waste is a grave disservice to hardworking taxpayers across our great nation, and yet our governmental bureaucracies are riddled with it - whether through unnecessary, duplicative, inefficient, outdated, or failed agencies and programs.

- Sam Brownback

Through, Nation, Taxpayers, Great Nation

I have carried bills concerning Sudan. I've carried bills concerning Congo. I've carried bills concerning North Korea and Iran and Iraq.

- Sam Brownback

Carried, Concerning, Korea, Congo

I think we have lost track of a core Republican principle of limited government and balancing budgets and restraining federal spending. We have got to change the system.

- Sam Brownback

Think, I Think, Principle, Restraining

This is a bipartisan effort. This is just good common sense. This is where the public wants us to go. They want us to not be so dependent on foreign oil.

- Sam Brownback

Effort, Want, Go, Common Sense

Jon Kyl did a really good job of presenting a case and moving issues. John McCain probably is one of the more effective legislators, getting things on through the process. I always thought, too - and this may seem kind of odd - Richard Shelby was just an effective guy a lot of times at stopping things.

- Sam Brownback

Thought, Through, Jon, Legislators

I do a number of things working on human rights issues, prison recidivism rates, and then I also push and have worked a lot on the social issues of rebuilding the family.

- Sam Brownback

Rebuilding, Social, Rates, Social Issues

I'm a Ronald Reagan conservative, I'm an economic conservative, I'm strong military. But I also voice and speak and work hard on the social issues.

- Sam Brownback

Strong, Voice, Conservative, Social Issues

I want to expand the compassionate conservative agenda. I believe life begins in the womb, and we should protect it. But it extends to a child in Darfur or someone living in poverty.

- Sam Brownback

Conservative, Living, Want, Womb

Consider this: The United States held its first presidential election in 1789. It marked the first peaceful transfer of executive power between parties in the fourth presidential election in 1801, and it took another 200 years' worth of presidential elections before the courts had to settle an election.

- Sam Brownback

United, Before, Held, Presidential

I've served on the International Relations Committee.

- Sam Brownback

Committee, Served, Relations

When the Taiwan Relations Act passed in 1979, our biggest concern was preventing the use of military force against Taiwan. Little did we know that our friends on Taiwan could so effectively use the space created by our friendship to revolutionize their political system.

- Sam Brownback

Friendship, Against, Use, Relations

Everybody will say that they're not opposed to immigration; they're opposed to illegal immigration. That's what I'm saying.

- Sam Brownback

Everybody, Opposed, Illegal Immigration

It is time for the government of China to stop holding innocent religious figures in captivity merely for peacefully protesting China's occupation of Tibet.

- Sam Brownback

Religious, Occupation, Protesting

I voted yes for ANWR, and I would support those in other places, environmentally sound.

- Sam Brownback

Places, Other, Would, ANWR

The moral argument is that we give big business a huge tax break, and why do we do it? To get their jobs.

- Sam Brownback

Big, Give, Argument, Big Business

I strongly support an 'all-of-the-above' energy policy that includes additional development of wind, clean coal, and bio-fuels.

- Sam Brownback

Development, Energy Policy, Wind

As the Cold War melts into history, our first concern should be the preservation and extension of human rights and democracy.

- Sam Brownback

War, Cold, Extension, Cold War

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