--- title: "1 Bitter experience Quotes By Gerald R. Ford" description: "1 Bitter experience quotes by Gerald R. Ford. Plus more from Gerald R. Ford and more Bitter experience sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/gerald-r-ford-2628_active_a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-pe_1981221.jpg" --- > [A strong defense is the surest way to peace. Strength makes detente attainable. Weakness invites war, as my generation - my generation - knows from four very bitter experiences. Just as America's will for peace is second to none, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-peace-strength-makes-detente/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/gerald-r-ford-2628_active_a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-pe_1981221.jpg) ## More by Gerald R. Ford > [My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/my-fellow-americans-our-long-national-nightmare-is-over-our/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [One of the enduring truths of the nation's capital is that bureaucrats survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/one-of-the-enduring-truths-of-the-nation-s-capital-is-that/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The old question still remains: Can a free people restrain crime without sacrificing fundamental liberties and a heritage of compassion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-old-question-still-remains-can-a-free-people-restrain-crime/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [In the firm belief that the American public deserves a better explanation than that thus far given by the Air Force, I strongly recommend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/in-the-firm-belief-that-the-american-public-deserves-a-better/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The Federal role in overcoming barriers to needed health care should emphasize health care financing programs-such as Medicare and Medicaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-federal-role-in-overcoming-barriers-to-needed-health-care-should/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [America now is stumbling through the darkness of hatred and divisiveness. Our values, our principles, and our determination to succeed as a free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/america-now-is-stumbling-through-the-darkness-of-hatred-and/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The political lesson of Watergate is this: Never again must America allow an arrogant, elite guard of political adolescents to by-pass the regular party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-political-lesson-of-watergate-is-this-never-again-must-america/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/this-is-an-hour-of-history-that-troubles-our-minds-and-hurts-our/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [In a democracy, the public has a right to know not only what the government decides, but why and by what process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/in-a-democracy-the-public-has-a-right-to-know-not-only-what-the/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I had a life-long ambition to be a professional baseball player, but nobody would sign me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-had-a-life-long-ambition-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-but/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [It's more like it is now than it ever has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/it-s-more-like-it-is-now-than-it-ever-has-been/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Let America symbolize humanity's struggle to conquer nature and master technology. The time has now come for our Government to facilitate the individual's control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/let-america-symbolize-humanity-s-struggle-to-conquer-nature-and/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Personal excellence can be achieved by a visionary goal, through planning, dedicated execution, and total follow-through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/personal-excellence-can-be-achieved-by-a-visionary-goal-through/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/now-therefore-i-gerald-r-ford-president-of-the-united-states-pursuant/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I had pro offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, who were pretty hard up for linemen in those days. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-had-pro-offers-from-the-detroit-lions-and-green-bay-packers-who/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/#itemlist", "name": "1 Bitter experience Quotes By Gerald R. Ford", "numberOfItems": 1, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A strong defense is the surest way to peace. Strength makes detente attainable. Weakness invites war, as my generation - my generation - knows from four very bitter experiences. Just as America's will for peace is second to none, so will America's strength be second to none. We cannot rely on the forbearance of others to protect this Nation. The power and diversity of the Armed Forces, active Guard and Reserve, the resolve of our fellow citizens, the flexibility in our command to navigate international waters that remain troubled are all essential to our security.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald R. Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-peace-strength-makes-detente/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/gerald-r-ford-2628_active_a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-pe_1981221.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/gerald-r-ford-2628_active_a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-pe_1981221.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/gerald-r-ford-2628_active_a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-pe_1981221.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A strong defense is the surest way to peace. Strength makes detente attainable. Weakness invites war, as my…” — Gerald R. Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/", "name": "Bitter experience Quotes by Gerald R. Ford", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/gerald-r-ford-2628_active_a-strong-defense-is-the-surest-way-to-pe_1981221.jpg" }, "description": "1 Bitter experience quotes by Gerald R. Ford. Plus more from Gerald R. Ford and more Bitter experience sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bitter Experience", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Gerald R. Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-experience/gerald-r-ford/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```