"Democracy functions best when we have an active citizenry."

"Tell the trial lawyers to get out of your state and to quit costing businessmen and women."

"I stand before you as the governor of Texas but also stand before you the son of two tenant farmers. Ray Perry who came home after 35 bombing missions over Europe to work his little corner of land out there and Amelia who made sure that my sister Milla and I had everything that we needed, included hand sewing my clothes until I went off to college."

"President Obama's call for nearly a half-trillion dollars in more government stimulus when America has more than $14 trillion in debt is guided by his mistaken belief that we can spend our way to prosperity."

"Money is our madness, our vast collective madness."

"I don't know what to do with it. I'm very fortunate to have it, and it gives you room to maneuver. But the main thing about having money is it means you don't have to worry about it. And that for me is a lovely thing. It's not for fast cars and hookers."

"You know, people make a lot of money talking about me, don't they?"

"Well, I think that California has had a history of always spending more money than it takes in."