Dr. Jim Surrell, Journal columnist

There are volumes of collections that reflect on the wit and wisdom that has been expressed by our great presidents of the United States over many years.

Of course, they have been expressed during hard times and during good times. They can often give us some insights for us to reflect upon what may be going on in our own lives as well. Following are just a few of my favorite presidential quotes.

George Washington: “Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world.”

  John Adams: “To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.”

Thomas Jefferson: “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”

Martin Van Buren: “It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.”

Abraham Lincoln: 1. “Do good to those who hate you and turn their ill will to friendship.” 2. “Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.” 3. “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” 

Rutherford B. Hayes: “Every expert was once a beginner.”

William Howard Taft: “We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.”

Calvin Coolidge: “No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what they gave.” anger.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.”

Harry S. Truman: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Pessimism never won any battle.”

John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Lyndon B. Johnson: “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”

Gerald R. Ford: “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”

Ronald Reagan: 1. “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be one nation gone under.” 2. “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.” 3. “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” 4. “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books. Requests for health topics for this column are encouraged. Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.