--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I meant it when I said she was the…" description: "\"I meant it when I said she was the greatest first lady ever. Because she viewed the presidency and being first lady as an opportunity to improve people..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/george-w-bush-64_burden_i-meant-it-when-i-said-she-was-the-great_793420.jpg" --- # I meant it when I said she was the greatest first lady… ![“I meant it when I said she was the greatest first lady ever. Because she viewed the presidency and being first lady as an opportunity to improve people's lives. It wasn't a burden. She put her heart and soul into the experience, just like I did.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/george-w-bush-64_burden_i-meant-it-when-i-said-she-was-the-great_793420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/george-w-bush-64_burden_i-meant-it-when-i-said-she-was-the-great_793420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/george-w-bush-64_burden_i-meant-it-when-i-said-she-was-the-great_793420.jpg) > “I meant it when I said she was the greatest first lady ever. Because she viewed the presidency and being first lady as an opportunity to improve people's lives. It wasn't a burden. She put her heart and soul into the experience, just like I did.” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She treated the role of First Lady as a platform for public service rather than a ceremonial duty, using her position to help others. **In simple terms:** She saw the role as a chance to help people. Key Takeaway Use any position to serve others. Themes public service leadership women in politics role models Mood inspirational respectful Type motivational historical When to use this quote - political campaigns - community outreach - nonprofit initiatives - policy advocacy Key Concepts civic engagement social impact empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders turn symbolic roles into real impact? - What obstacles might they face? A Different Perspective Balancing personal ambition with public expectations can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [First lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-lady/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Greatest Lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-lady-6089367/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-soul/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Presidency Lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency-lady-6089366/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-greatest-586546/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Viewed Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewed-presidency-6089368/) ## Related quotes > [I said I was 'The Greatest,' I never said I was the smartest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-i-was-the-greatest-i-never-said-i-was-the-smartest/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [They said I was the greatest pitcher they ever sawI couldnt understand why they couldnt give me no justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satchel-paige/they-said-i-was-the-greatest-pitcher-they-ever-sawi-couldnt/) [Satchel Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satchel-paige/) > [I said I was the greatest, not the smartest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-i-was-the-greatest-not-the-smartest/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Throughout Ronnie's presidency, there was an ongoing public discussion as to how much influence the first lady should have on the president. It's hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/throughout-ronnie-s-presidency-there-was-an-ongoing-public-discussion/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [The best thing about my family is my wife. She is a great first lady. I know that sounds not very objective, but that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-best-thing-about-my-family-is-my-wife-she-is-a-great-first-lady-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ \[Strong marriage\] starts with being married to a remarkable person. And I am. I jokingly say that I stood up in front of a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/strong-marriage-starts-with-being-married-to-a-remarkable-person-and/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-most-important-job-is-not-to-be-governor-or-first-lady-in-my-case/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The interesting thing about golf is that the presidency requires focus and discipline, and golf requires focus and discipline. It was a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-interesting-thing-about-golf-is-that-the-presidency-requires/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ One thing you had to learn \[after the presidency\] was that you no longer had the sense of responsibility that became ingrained in your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-thing-you-had-to-learn-after-the-presidency-was-that-you-no/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [When you're writing about something that happened, it helps you transition to the present. Ironically enough, by focusing on your presidency, it helps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/when-you-re-writing-about-something-that-happened-it-helps-you/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [After 9/11, I told the American people I would do everything in my power to protect the country, within the law, and that's exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/after-9-11-i-told-the-american-people-i-would-do-everything-in-my/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I am comfortable knowing that I put my heart and soul into the presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-am-comfortable-knowing-that-i-put-my-heart-and-soul-into-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The Oval Office is a place where there's been, obviously, a lot of amazing experiences over a seven-and-a-half year period. My presidency is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-oval-office-is-a-place-where-there-s-been-obviously-a-lot-of/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My post-presidency is evolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-post-presidency-is-evolving/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We spend less time with each other now than we did during the presidency. When you're president, you're usually out and back in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-spend-less-time-with-each-other-now-than-we-did-during-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by George W. Bush > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More Burden quotes > [Everything I do is more memorable and I understand music more than ever now. It's not a burden to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/everything-i-do-is-more-memorable-and-i-understand-music-more-than/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [I am at a point in my life where everything I have worked for starts to look like a burden, a weight on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-abou-samra/i-am-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-everything-i-have-worked-for-starts/) [Simone Abou Samra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-abou-samra/) > [Trump's enduring appeal is a resource to be harnessed by the Republican Party, not a burden to be jettisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/trump-s-enduring-appeal-is-a-resource-to-be-harnessed-by-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“What a burden it must be to know all the terrible things you've done and support it with arms unfit to carry it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-weikel/what-a-burden-it-must-be-to-know-all-the-terrible-things-you-ve-done/) [K. Weikel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-weikel/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. On some it sits easy for they are but beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-may-alcott/wherever-i-am-i-see-the-yoke-on-women-in-some-form-or-another-on-some/) [Abby May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-may-alcott/) > [It's a burden trying to keep a secret. It's hard. It probably takes more out of you trying to hold it and keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/it-s-a-burden-trying-to-keep-a-secret-it-s-hard-it-probably-takes/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I've always liked artists like Chris Burden, who would take performances, put them in galleries, and then do things that were on the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blaine/i-ve-always-liked-artists-like-chris-burden-who-would-take/) [David Blaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blaine/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Browse all 2,567 Burden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I meant it when I said she was the greatest first lady ever. Because she viewed the presidency and being first lady as an opportunity to improve people's lives. It wasn't a burden. She put her heart and soul into the experience, just like I did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George W. 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