Ronald Reagan Quotes On Anniversary Of His Death: Remembering The Republican President 11 Years After His Passing

Ronald Reagan died 11 years ago on Friday at his Los Angeles home at the age of 93. The 40th U.S. president was in office from 1981 to 1989 and was known for his stance on reducing government's influence.

Reagan is a hero for many current Republican leaders because of his policies. His early career was as an actor -- he appeared in more than 50 films and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild -- before entering government in 1966 as the governor of California. He defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election and took office in 1981. During his two terms, Reagan cut government spending (aside from defense expenditures) and taxes.

"Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp," reads the White House bio of Reagan.

Below are 15 quotes from the former president to honor him on the 11th anniversary of his death. All quotes are from the Reagan Foundation, Good Reads and Brainy Quote.

1. "Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."

2. "The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave."

3. "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same."

4. “If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be one nation gone under.”

5. "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem."

6. "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."

7. “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.”

8. "Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man."

9. "There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination and wonder."

10. "Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15."

11. "We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much."

12. "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means."

13. "We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions."

14. "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things."

15. "There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit."