How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the greatness and the genius of America. America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. (29)
Reagan highlights this quote by Alexis de Tocqueville to emphasize that, at its core, America was founded on the belief that all people deserve to live safely and happily, exercising their rights in ways that do not trample on other people. That's what true equality is, and that's what makes America good. Without it, everything we stand for becomes a little less noble, a little more difficult to believe.
Quote #2
Now, I'm sure that you must get discouraged at times, but you've done better than you know. There's a great spiritual awakening in America, a renewal of traditional values that have been the bedrock of America's goodness and greatness. (88-89)
For a time, people were adamant that no one religion should be practiced in public, because not all Americans practiced one religion. Because of efforts to remain equal, and therefore remain good, the government took strides to separate church and state. However, Reagan notes that the lack of religion in public places has not undermined the faith of the average person—in fact, the opposite is true, and that is what has been keeping America so great, so strong in the face of other countries who would try and devalue U.S. principles.
Quote #3
At the same time, however, they must be made to understand we will never compromise our principles and standards. We will never give away our freedom. (121-122)
No offense to Ronnie, but Mel Gibson kind of said it best. Even so, our 40th president does still make a solid and important point. He believes the difference between good and evil comes down to not only what the good guys believe, but how they protect and share those beliefs with other people.
Americans will never allow their traditions to become tokens thrown around in peace negotiations, because those traditions are the very foundation of peace, the very foundation of all that's good. We've never give those things away, because doing so would imply the evildoers have won, and that isn't ever going to be an option.
Quote #4
[...] Some would have us accept them at their word and accommodate ourselves to their aggressive impulses. But if history teaches us anything, it teaches that simple-minded appeasement or wishful thinking about our adversaries is folly. It means the betrayal of our past, the squandering of our freedom. (152-154)
Here's the crux of the issue: agreeing to a nuclear freeze would imply the United States, and therefore all democratic and free nations around the world, have something to fear from the communist countries. According to Reagan, that would be the absolute worst message to send, and history has proven that it doesn't even really work, so there has to be another, better solution.
Quote #5
While America's military strength is important, let me add here that I've always maintained that the struggle now going on for the world will never be decided by bombs or rockets, by armies or military might. The real crisis we face today is a spiritual one; at root, it is a test of moral will and faith. (159-160)
A ton of the twentieth century involved various military conflicts around the world, with the U.S. military going into different countries to help the locals climb out of oppression and prosper as free, democratic nations. No matter how you feel about the military, it's easy to understand why those actions, however noble in their intent, weren't always received super well.
Reagan had enlisted during World War II, had lived through Vietnam, and understood the blurry line between good and evil, especially where the American military muscle was concerned. Therefore, ideological problems between the U.S. and the Soviet Union needed ideological solutions.