Vicente Fox Quotations

On one side, citizens have great respect for the United States; they have a great feeling of friendship. That is solid. But in the opposition and in the political arena I often find criticism of the closeness of relations with the United States. That is a reality.

Instead of building walls, we should be building bridges.

Monuments and archaeological pieces serve as testimonies of man's greatness and establish a dialogue between civilizations showing the extent to which human beings are linked.

I part of this great nation because my grandfather was born here, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He took a horse, back in 1895, and ride it all the way down to Guanajuato, looking for his American dream. No penny in his pocket, only dreams in his head. And he was an immigrant coming from the States into Mexico. And he found his American dream in Mexico.

We need to be aware of what we are capable of first and realize that if you place your dreams really really high, you do have the potential to get to that level.

There's no doubt that Mexican men and women full of dignity, willpower and a capacity for work are doing the work that not even blacks want to do in the United States.

The real end winner of NAFTA is going to be Mexico because we have the human capital. We have that resource that is vital to the success of the U.S. economy.

Prohibition didn't work in the Garden of Eden. Adam ate the apple.

No doubt I enjoy being close to people in the way I dress, the way I speak, and the way I communicate with people.

I think one purpose is very clear among corporations and business leaders: make profits, deliver high return for stockholders, conquer markets, service consumers and create jobs. But in today's world, demands from corporations and leaders are much more than that. We need to understand what people really want at the very end.

I am the guardian of power, not its owner.

I think there's a big misunderstanding on the value of migrants.

We would betray Mexicans' hopes for change if we felt satisfied with what we've accomplished so far.

You may count on Mexico's support, since your commitment to the noblest causes of mankind and your vast experience are and will be invaluable in enabling us, together, to achieve a better world.

Mexico doesn't deserve what has happened to us. A democratic change is urgent, a change that will permit us to stop being a loser country.

Tourism is a top priority activity for federal government, which is why it invests an average of over 2,500 million dollars a year in infrastructure works and integral projects that promote Mexico's culture and natural attractions.

So if Arizona sees the federal government isn't assuming its responsibilities, it creates local laws. But migration and keeping security on the borders is not a local or state issue, it's a federal issue.

And I like to convey my feelings, my emotions, my experience, the information I have to public use, public opinion.

By dedicating so much concentration to the issue of security, bilateral matters pass to a secondary level.

Let me tell you that I love the United States.

I should say many things. Mexico has been one of the losers of the 20th century. We tried many different alternatives to development and unfortunately we have 40 percent of the population poor; we have a per capita income that is extremely low.

As long as they are working, they should be legalized. I admire so much each and every migrant. They are the most loyal workers in the U.S. economy. They build the homes of those who are attacking them.

Obama is thoroughly mixed up with all these things he's got. He's got to solve Libya. He's got to solve Afghanistan. He's everywhere. And this nation, I don't know why it's not showing the leadership and capacity to attend different issues at the same time.

The job of president is to motivate, to inspire, to be side by side with people making sure that they develop all their capacities and that I remove all the obstacles they have to grow by themselves.

To me, governing is communicating. That facilitates the whole job because I can listen, I can hear what people have to say, and at the same time I can let them know what are we working on, what is our strategic line, and where are we going.

Usually Mexico, or always Mexico has defended itself and its territory.

At the very end, what is going to happen is that immigration will be reduced considerably. And how can we get to that stage? By agreements on sectors.

What Mexicans want and aspire to, is to go there and work temporarily and raise some money and come back home. That's what they want, so nobody's asking for those two, three million Mexicans that are illegally in the United States to become American citizens.

Fortunately, I have money that's from my life's work. But it's money that I share and used greatly to fight poverty in my country.

I think it's very important that the United States keeps out of the local electoral process in Mexico.

Always, in every human action, there are leaders.

Our number one priority is to spend every peso possible to include those who are currently excluded.

The army should go back to their assigned duties, and police should take the responsibility of fighting the cartels.

I am an honest person, transparent, that look citizens straight in their faces.

First, to begin with, Mexico is North American; the one that is using wrong the term is United States. United States is not North America. North America is Mexico, United States, and Canada.

President Obama is committed to Hispanics and migrants.

There are people that go ahead, that see problems before the rest, that take decisions before the rest.

We are not going to build a pressure in Mexico. We're not building walls to retain our people.

I believe Mexico should dedicate 100% of its oil revenues to developing human capital and technological development. None of us politicians should be able to touch that money.

I mean, we must act with intelligence. We must work on this framework, so that immigration becomes an asset to both nations. Believe me, what - just the Mayor Bloomberg said here in New York, that this city would be stopped, totally stopped if it were not by the immigrants working here.

I think that in Mexico, we must change some practices that were built during the 72 years of predominance in Mexico. Former presidents would just hide away, run away or disappear. And I think it's key in a democracy that presidents face people, see eye to eye to citizens and work to keep on contributing to the - to Mexico.

Mexico is the only country in the world that has a trade agreement with United States and Canada, and at the same time has one with Europe. These are the two largest markets in the world. By the same token, Mexico has one of the most open economies.

We are a nation in which freedom is alive in the squares and streets, in the daily work of the communications media, in the open relationship between the governing and the governed.

We must put together countries that produce drugs, countries that traffic, and countries that consume, and through this multilateral effort really stop the growing of crime.

Change will not come from above, it will come from below, from the small and medium size businesspeople. They do dare to show their faces. They applaud us and help us financially.

I believe that work can be done on security; in combating terrorism in Mexico we have done our part in this area. But at the same time, the world must continue working.

I have decided to fight for my country, because we have build a success story in Guanajuato, with real results and more yet to come in the next two years.

What nourishes us at home and in school is what inspires us. When we get awareness and learn about the great potential that we all human beings have, we are able to discover our leadership.

On that side and this side there is organized crime. On that side and this side there is drug consumption.

No one has ever been forced into a free trade deal,

Pope John Paul II was an exceptional man, his legacy will transcend generations.

If we keep wasting time, if we keep running in circles ... we will keep having more poverty,

If we can put together a Mexican businessman and a U.S. businessman, they will find a way to do more business.

If we haven't reached a complete resolution up until now, that only encourages us to continue struggling, trying to convince people of the benefits of a migration deal, which is greatly in the interests of the United States and Mexico.

There are people who in private ask us to respect the confidentiality of their donations, and we do, because we understand the fear they have of being repressed, just as I was when I began in politics. Important businesspeople often lose the vision of the wonderful opportunities this country offers if we achieve a true democracy-they prefer short-term benefits. The ones who ARE changing are women. They have a very different vision.

Let us proceed sensibly and bravely to demolish all vestiges of authoritarianism and to build a genuine democracy,

What I am hoping for is votes from intelligent and democratic PRD supporters who want change,

Fortunately, the storm has passed, and now we can get to work,

He has a good foot for kicking, but he doesn't have a good brain for talking,

There is huge devastation. This hurricane has provoked a tremendous impact. But Mexico has experience and it was demonstrated right from the beginning, saving lives,

It is focused on battling the grand problems of terrorism in all of its manifestations, ... For this reason the Mexican government firmly supports these actions.

Mexico and the United States are nations which are neighbors and friends which should always have solidarity in moments of difficulty,

Mexico fully supports Canada's position to make sure that the decisions of the NAFTA panels in the settlement of disputes are upheld,

Mexico has long held this position, a position that it will not change but maintain out of what we deem to be respect and justice,

we have some presidents, fortunately a minority, who blame other countries for all their problems.

We have strengthened our mechanisms related to migration so that we make sure that the Mexican territory is absolutely not used by terrorists,

There are some things that cannot be tolerated,

There are those that with great shortsightedness think that the solution is to close themselves off and that the solution is to not compete in the markets,

We are going to win this battle. We'll see who is tougher, we'll see who is more stubborn,

We recognize the value to those who come to the United States to work, to study, to contribute, and we appreciate what this will do to the flow of visitors, now that they will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted at the front-end of short visits to the United States,

We are going to support everyone to recover their goods and rebuild their homes that were destroyed, to compensate agricultural producers for the loss of crops, and in finance plans for businesses,

To be united, to be friendly, pays and pays well,

The pension issue is a priority for my government and also a priority for our economy,

We can't allow people to offend our country.

would probably tell you that he would use some different phrasing.

When it comes down to it, for Mexico, the FTAA means being able to go forward toward development, in the fight against poverty, in job creation and economic growth,

Don't mess with me, sir, because you'll get stung.

The United States can benefit from the work and the effort of the Mexican people as much as we Mexicans can benefit from working with the American market, with American investors,

The storm is very powerful and very threatening,

The survival of small islands of prosperity surrounded by seas of destitution is not viable, ... provokes conflicts which respect no borders, and it threatens peace and security at a regional and global level.

The stated policy of my administration towards Saddam Hussein was very clear. Like the previous administration, we were for regime change,

They all died in the line of duty, ... They are heroes ... I have lost not just a co-worker, but a close friend, Ramon.

Up to now, each President has implemented purely personal projects while in office. The PRI used that to stay in power. Today, more than ever, we need to have a national plan of action that represents the consensus of all Mexicans. That's one of the things I'm trying to put together in this campaign.

You can't be successful by closing yourself off to the rest of the world, ... Europe, China and Asia are taking away the jobs due to the lack of trade accords.

We are still optimistic that next year we can finalize what we have been working on for a good number of years, reaching an agreement and the U.S. Congress approving the initiatives that are there,

Fair trade governed by rules is the basis for the growth of our economy. Institutions and procedures must be strengthened, not weakened,

first dedicate all of their attention to protecting their lives, their health and their family members.

Now is the time to save lives and protect the population, and we are working on that. Afterward, we will begin the phase of helping citizens and reconstruction.

This guarantees certainty. This gives confidence and great strength to the Mexican economy,

This is a personal position of the Venezuelan president.

I'm asking you for zero unemployment, ... I'm asking you not fire anyone, to keep them in their regular positions or use them in rebuilding.

It's hard, it's so hard, ... I can understand why the people are crying. Why they yell for help.

The most important thing now ... is to protect lives, protect the lives of our children, of our grandparents, ... Possessions can be replaced.

The era of recurring economic crises has come to an end,

The uncertainty is due to the political factor. We all want to know who will make up the cabinet,

These humanitarian missions are a reflection of the sentiments of solidarity of the people of Mexico with the U.S. population,

It's very American to tell little stories that never existed, ... It's the only thing Mr. Labastida is learning: how to follow the teachings of Mr. Carville.

This week, I will announce a decree to minimize the impact of this unfortunate disaster in the United States on Mexican families and national industry,

We talked about migration, which is a problem, and we explored solutions, and the solutions have to do with economic development, have to do with growing the Mexican economy at rates of 7 percent, which will give us the opportunity of building up 1,350,000 jobs,

This is a vision of the future, ... Every vision of nationalism, of a closed economy, of protectionism goes against the successful path of globalization and of progressive economies.