--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I worked for George Bush. I'm proud to…" description: "\"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 - a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/dick-cheney-1810_controversial_i-worked-for-george-bush-i-m-proud-to-ha_2417114.jpg" --- # I worked for George Bush. I'm proud to have worked for… ![“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…” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/dick-cheney-1810_controversial_i-worked-for-george-bush-i-m-proud-to-ha_2417114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/dick-cheney-1810_controversial_i-worked-for-george-bush-i-m-proud-to-ha_2417114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/dick-cheney-1810_controversial_i-worked-for-george-bush-i-m-proud-to-ha_2417114.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Controversial security measures, such as surveillance and enhanced interrogation, are justified as necessary to protect lives. **In simple terms:** Hard security tactics are defended as life‑saving. Key Takeaway Weigh security benefits against ethical costs. Themes security ethics government policy national safety Mood serious critical reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - law enforcement - public safety - legislative hearings Key Concepts surveillance interrogation counterterrorism civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - Are the ends worth the means? - What safeguards should exist? A Different Perspective Such measures can erode civil freedoms and public trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Interrogation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrogation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Save a life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-a-life/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I became a physician in order to help save lives. I am at once a physician, a citizen, and a woman, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-fay-jefferson/i-became-a-physician-in-order-to-help-save-lives-i-am-at-once-a/) Mildred Fay Jefferson > [Anytime we can save lives or prevent the destruction of property, we should do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/anytime-we-can-save-lives-or-prevent-the-destruction-of-property-we/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I support basic research, which can lead to discoveries that change our world, expand our horizons and save lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-s-smith/i-support-basic-research-which-can-lead-to-discoveries-that-change/) [Lamar S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-s-smith/) > [ The medical device tags that are being used \[in the USA\] are a terrible mistake. Why are we taxing people for trying to save… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/the-medical-device-tags-that-are-being-used-in-the-usa-are-a-terrible/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [There are two kinds of people in this world, son. Those who save lives, and those who take lives." "And what of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-son-those-who-save-lives/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I'm just a regular mother who's trying to save lives and be the best human being I can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-m-just-a-regular-mother-who-s-trying-to-save-lives-and-be-the-best/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [If I could be a doctor and save lives I would, but I can't so I sing songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/if-i-could-be-a-doctor-and-save-lives-i-would-but-i-can-t-so-i-sing/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [Beyond its entertainment value, 'Baywatch' has enriched and, in many cases, helped save lives. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to continue with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hasselhoff/beyond-its-entertainment-value-baywatch-has-enriched-and-in-many/) [David Hasselhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hasselhoff/) > [I believe all life has value, from conception to natural death. And I believe the intentional taking of human life, except to save lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-believe-all-life-has-value-from-conception-to-natural-death-and-i/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Acknowledge World Aids Day! Do what you can to help save lives! #livingforlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/acknowledge-world-aids-day-do-what-you-can-to-help-save-lives/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The biggest pieces of work that we do are vaccines, because those save lives, and also family planning. Because if a woman can space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/the-biggest-pieces-of-work-that-we-do-are-vaccines-because-those-save/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Vaccines save lives; fear endangers them. It's a simple message parents need to keep hearing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/vaccines-save-lives-fear-endangers-them-it-s-a-simple-message-parents/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [I find trying to solve problems and save lives is far more important than my film career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-find-trying-to-solve-problems-and-save-lives-is-far-more-important/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Thousands of people die every year of cold, so if we had global warming it would save lives ... We ought to look out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/thousands-of-people-die-every-year-of-cold-so-if-we-had-global/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [I try to be as honest about what I see and to speak rather than be silent, especially if it means I can save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-try-to-be-as-honest-about-what-i-see-and-to-speak-rather-than-be/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) ## More by Dick Cheney > [A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/a-little-tough-talk-in-the-midst-of-a-campaign-or-as-part-of-a/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/senator-kerry-says-he-sees-two-americas-it-makes-the-whole-thing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think the decision that's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-the-decision-that-s-been-made-with-respect-to-allowing-gays/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ \[In response to the question "Do you think that you underestimated the insurgency's strength?"\] I think so. I guess if I look back on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/in-response-to-the-question-do-you-think-that-you-underestimated-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/let-us-rid-ourselves-of-the-fiction-that-low-oil-prices-are-somehow/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-we-need-to-significantly-reduce-the-regulatory-burden-on-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm often asked why I left politics and went to Halliburton and I explain that I reached the point where I was mean-spirited, short-tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-often-asked-why-i-left-politics-and-went-to-halliburton-and-i/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-part-of-the-greatness-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-we-were-not-as-effective-in-the-second-term-dealing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Sarah Palin is an attractive candidate, but based on her background, she only was governor for what, two years. I don't think she passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/sarah-palin-is-an-attractive-candidate-but-based-on-her-background/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/my-own-belief-is-that-the-way-we-grow-the-economy-create-jobs-create/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/from-our-perspective-trying-to-deal-with-this-continuing-campaign-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) [Explore all 207 Dick Cheney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## More Controversial quotes > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) M.I.A > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. 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But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/) [Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/) > [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) S.F. Chandler > [I've been a very effective leader in the gay rights movement, though at times I've been controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-o-leary/i-ve-been-a-very-effective-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-though/) [Jean O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-o-leary/) > [“At the time, though, vaccination was controversial. Many were opposed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/at-the-time-though-vaccination-was-controversial-many-were-opposed/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) [Browse all 486 Controversial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I worked for George Bush. I'm proud to have worked for him. 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