13 quotes to remember from President Biden’s State of the Union

President Joe Biden had a message for all Americans: The state of the country and democracy is strong.

On Tuesday night, Biden delivered the State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, speaking about the Ukrainian crisis, the U.S. economy and the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic, among other topics.

His speech started on the subject of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine before broadening to speak about Americans coming together and uniting for the sake of democracy.

We have gathered some of the top quotes from Biden’s speech.

On Russia and Ukraine:

• “Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the foundations of the free world thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people.”
• “Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people.”

On the economy:

• “If you travel 20 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, you’ll find 1,000 empty acres of land. It won’t look like much, but if you stop and look closely, you’ll see a ‘field of dreams,’ the ground on which America’s future will be built.”
• “But with all the bright spots in our economy, record job growth and higher wages, too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills. Inflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise be able to feel. I get it. That’s why my top priority is getting prices under control.”
• “I’m a capitalist, but capitalism without competition IS NOT capitalism. It’s exploitation — and it drives up prices.”

On COVID-19:

• “For more than two years, COVID-19 has impacted every decision in our lives and the life of the nation. And I know you’re tired, frustrated and exhausted. ... Because of the progress we’ve made, because of your resilience and the tools we have been provided by this Congress, tonight I can say we are moving forward safely, back to more normal routines.”
• “Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, COVID-19 need no longer control our lives.”
• “We will continue to combat the virus as we do other diseases. And because this is a virus that mutates and spreads, we have to stay on guard.”
• “We have lost so much to COVID-19. Time with one another. And worst of all, much loss of life. Let’s use this moment to reset. Let’s stop looking at COVID as a partisan dividing line and see it for what it is: A God-awful disease.”

On American unity:

• “Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies, and start seeing each other for who we really are: fellow Americans.”
• “We have fought for freedom, expanded liberty, defeated totalitarianism and terror. And built the strongest, freest and most prosperous nation the world has ever known. Now is the hour. Our moment of responsibility. Our test of resolve and conscience, of history itself.” 
• “I am more optimistic about America today than I have been my whole life. Because I see the future that is within our grasp. Because I know there is simply nothing beyond our capacity.”
• “The State of the Union is strong — because you, the American people, are strong. We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today.”