26 Quotes by Betty Ford
Betty Ford, the wife of President Gerald Ford, made a lasting impact as First Lady of the United States during a transformative era in American history. Known for her openness and candor, Ford became an influential advocate for various social and health issues, most notably her public battle with breast cancer and her advocacy for women's rights and addiction recovery. Her frank discussions about sensitive topics, such as mental health and substance abuse, challenged societal stigmas and encouraged open dialogue.
Ford's creation of the Betty Ford Center, a renowned addiction treatment facility, further demonstrated her commitment to helping individuals overcome addiction and find recovery. Beyond her advocacy work, Ford was admired for her grace, poise, and dedication to public service. Betty Ford's courage, compassion, and commitment to social causes have cemented her as one of the most influential and admired First Ladies in American history, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion, empowerment, and hope.
Betty Ford Quotes
That's what we're here on this Earth for, to help others.
I have an independent streak. You know, it's kind of hard to tell a independent woman what to do.
My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age. His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country.
The search for human freedom can never be complete without freedom for women.
A housewife deserves to be honored as much as a woman who earns her living in the marketplace. I consider bringing up children a responsible job. In fact, being a good housewife seems to me a much tougher job than going to the office and getting paid for it.
You can make it, but it's easier if you don't have to do it alone.
A liberated woman is one who feels confident in herself, and is happy in what she is doing. She is a person who has a sense of self-it all comes down to a freedom of choice.
You never know what you can do until you have to do it. (Meaning)
It's important to be active. People who retire, sit by their swimming pool and golf course and plan to relax have a very empty life.
Being a lady does not require silence.
I don't look at what I've lost. I look instead at what I have left.
Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.
Having babies is a blessing, not a duty.
What man could afford to pay for all the things a wife does, when she's a cook, a mistress, a chauffeur, a nurse, a baby-sitter? But because of this, I feel women ought to have equal rights, equal Social Security, equal opportunities for education, an equal chance to establish credit.
I've learned a lot about myself. Most of it is all right. When I add up the pluses and subtract the minuses, I still come out pretty well.
I believe the equal rights amendment is a necessity of life for all citizens. The cabinet sometimes felt that I shouldn't be so outspoken.
We're full all the time. And people do have good success and I think one of the programs at the center, the Continuing Care, helps them with their success. Because it's difficult the first year.
I'll never forget the day that I was told I would have to have a mastectomy. My reaction to the words was total denial.
It's always been my feeling that God lends you your children until they're about eighteen years old. If you haven't made your points with them by then, it's too late.
Alcohol may pick you up a little bit, but it lets you down in a hurry.
Friends aren't any more important than breath or blood to a high school senior.
Holding these babies in my arms makes me realize the miracle my husband and I began.
Isn't that wonderful? When we drove through several of the places we lived - Grand Rapids, Washington - they all had those placards. That they stood by the street and had in their hands placards that said 'Gerald Our Ford'. That meant so much to us as we were driving into Washington.
The problem with drugs is that people forget to stop doing them. There’s a time and a place for everything, Mr. Mackey, and it’s called college.
When other women have this same operation, it doesn't make any headlines. But the fact that I was the wife of the President put it in headlines and brought before the public this particular experience I was going through. It made a lot of women realize that it could happen to them. I'm sure I've saved at least one person maybe more.
But my activities have been pretty much focused in the last almost 30 years on the recovery, of my own recovery, the understanding for my family of my recovery.
― Betty Ford Quotes
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
