Barbara Bush Quotes to Remember the Classy-Yet-Sassy First Lady

By Jaclyn Anglis Updated: April 18, 2018

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The world lost a powerful, loyal, and admirable woman when Barbara Bush passed away on April 17, 2018 at the age of 92. The wife of one United States president and the mother of another, Barbara Bush was certainly a force to be reckoned with — and her inspiring quotes throughout her life prove it.

A family woman until the very end, Barbara Bush passed away at her home in Houston, surrounded by her beloved husband and other family members, after choosing to forgo further medical treatment for her ailing health. After a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Barbara Bush had decided that she would be “surrounded by a family she adores” in comfort care, according to an earlier statement released by the office of her husband, former President George H.W. Bush.

Other than her fierce dedication to her family, Barbara Bush was also known for using her public platform for good — she was a strong proponent of fighting illiteracy in America and began the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy after becoming the first lady. She was also heavily involved with charities and volunteering — especially in nursing homes and hospitals — and was ready to lend a helping hand to those who needed it most. And of course, Barbara Bush was also famous for her frank demeanor and for being open and honest. When she had something on her mind, she wasn’t afraid to say it — and these Barbara Bush quotes show just how powerful speaking her mind could be.

Barbara Bush Quotes
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Barbara Bush Quote About Life

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent." - Barbara Bush

Anyone else have chills right now? Barbara Bush was never shy about spending as much time as possible with her loved ones, and she clearly wanted everyone to know that it was the most important thing to her at the end of the day. It's no wonder she shared such a beautiful relationship with all of them while she was still alive.
Barbara Bush Quotes On Family
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Barbara Bush Quote About Family

"To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there." - Barbara Bush

If there's anyone who perfectly understood what "family" means, it was Barbara Bush. The former first lady knew that being part of a family meant so much more than simply marrying someone or having children. To her, it was a commitment of time, energy, bonding, sharing, and most of all, love. All families would do well to take a page from her book!
Barbara Bush Quotes On Cleaning
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Barbara Bush Quote about Cleaning

"The darn trouble with cleaning the house is it gets dirty the next day anyway, so skip a week if you have to. The children are the most important thing." - Barbara Bush

As important as keeping a happy home was to Barbara Bush, she clearly understood that sometimes the physical house could get a little (or a lot) messy at times. However, she never failed to emphasize that the most important parts of any house were the people inside. It's worth us remembering this crucial lesson whenever the chores fall to the wayside (as they do for everyone).
Barbara Bush Quotes On Success
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Barbara Bush Quote on Success

"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people — your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way." - Barbara Bush

Considering the fact that Barbara Bush was so closely connected to two United States presidents — who held the title often considered to be "the leader of the free world" — it's not surprising that she'd know a thing or two about success. But what's really inspiring to us is what she considers true success to be, despite the world's emphasis on other accomplishments.
Barbara Bush Quotes On Aging
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Barbara Bush Quote on Aging

"Never ask anyone over 70 how they feel. They'll tell you." - Barbara Bush

We'll certainly miss Barbara Bush's smart, witty humor — especially in regard to the most relatable realities of life such as getting older. We could always count on her to tell us how she really felt in situations like these, and in some cases — including this particular quote — we still can't help but nod our heads. Too true!