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Barack Obama Quotes

Total quotes: 88
“I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.”
— Barack Obama, President Obama's farewell speech
Tagged: Change, Power of Individuals, Activism, Inspirational
“John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John.”
— Barack Obama
Tagged: cancer, fighter
“In the United States, hopefully, what we’re building are not just pyramids, are not icons to one pharaoh. What we’re building is a culture and a way of living together that we can look back on and say, this was good, was inclusive, was kind, was innovative, was able to fulfill the dreams of as many people as possible.”
— Barack Obama, Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview
Tagged: The United States, Politcal Experiments, Building The World, Political Structures, Social Systems
“So regardless of the station we occupy; we have to try harder; to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own.”
— Barack Obama, Read the full transcript of President Obama's farewell speech
Tagged: America, Empathy, Political Compassion, Unity, Quote of the Moment, Obama, Barack Obama, obama farewell speech, obama farewell transcript
“For far too many people, the more things have changed, the more things stayed the same.”
— Barack Obama, The Nelson Mandela Lecture
“I am a firm believer that you don’t do anything significant by yourself.”
— Barack Obama, Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview
Tagged: It Takes A Village, Community, Against Individualism
“The presidency is a relay race, requiring each of us to do our part to bring the country closer to its highest aspirations.”
— Barack Obama, The way ahead
Tagged: Barack Obama, America, The United States, Politics, American Presidency
“Aside from any particular issue, the president needs to recognize that this is not about you.”
— Barack Obama, The Day After: Obama on His Legacy, Trump's Win and the Path Forward
“That's what we mean when we say our nation has been exceptional. Not that we've been flawless from the start, but that we've been able to change.”
— Barack Obama, President Obama’s Farewell Address
Tagged: Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Politics, News
“Our democracy will not work without the sense that everyone has an economic opportunity.”
— Barack Obama, President Obama’s Farewell Address
Tagged: Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Politics, News
“Our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don't invest in their future.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks by the President on a New Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, March 27, 2009
Tagged: Obama: First Term 2009-2012, Terrorism, Politics, America, Threats, goal, Defeat, Safety
“In fact, the most important change may be the toughest of all—and that’s changing ourselves.”
— Barack Obama, Glamour Exclusive: President Obama On Feminism and the World He Wants to Leave His Daughters
“We’re not done perfecting our union, or living up to our founding creed – that all of us are created equal and free in the eyes of God.”
— Barack Obama, Full text: President Obama's DNC speech
Tagged: America, Election 2016, Christian Politics, American Experiment, Progress
“If you want to fight climate change, we’ve got to engage not only young people on college campuses, but reach out to the coal miner who’s worried about taking care of his family, the single mom worried about gas prices.”
— Barack Obama, Full text: President Obama's DNC speech
Tagged: Climate Change, inclusiveness
“We don't have a common market in the Americas. But in all sorts of ways, the United States constrains itself in order to bind everyone under a common set of norms and rules that makes everybody more prosperous.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks by the President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron in Joint Press Conference
Tagged: Universalism, Universal Norms, Economic Configurations, One Universal With Many Particulars, Brexit
“In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another. We will not give in to fear.”
— Barack Obama, via twitter.com
Tagged: Hate, Violence, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Peace, LGBTQ
“The United States is home to 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of the world’s prisoners. Think about that.”
— Barack Obama, 13th
Tagged: America, Prison
“But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.”
— Barack Obama, Medium, How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change
Tagged: turning point, Change, Politics, protest, Reform
“If you disrespect women before you are elected president, you will disrespect women when you're in office.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks by the President at Hillary for America Rally -- Raleigh, NC
Tagged: Election 2016
“To anyone out there who’s hurting—it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength.”
— Barack Obama, Speech For Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act 2015
Tagged: Suicide Prevention, Depression, Mental Health
“It is absolutely men’s responsibility to fight sexism too. And as spouses and partners and boyfriends, we need to work hard and be deliberate about creating truly equal relationships.”
— Barack Obama, Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, "This Is What a Feminist Looks Like"
Tagged: Sexism, Male Feminists
“I have come here to bury the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas. I have come here to extend the hand of friendship to the Cuban people.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks by President Obama to the People of Cuba, March 22, 2016
Tagged: Cuba, Obama: Second Term, international politics, History, America, International Relations
“And there's one area where Donald's experience could be invaluable, and that's closing Guantanamo - because Trump knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground.”
— Barack Obama, Obama didn't hold back against Donald Trump in his last correspondents' dinner
Tagged: Guantanamo, Election 2016 Jokes
“At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better. ”
— Barack Obama, ala.org
Tagged: Education, Reading
“Someone once wrote, ‘A bullet need happen only once, but for peace to work we need to be reminded of its existence again and again and again.’”
— Barack Obama, Statement by the President on the Shootings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Tagged: Temper Our Senses, On Violence, Hannah Arendt & Obama
“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.”
— Barack Obama, President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address, JANUARY 21, 2009
Tagged: Obama: First Term 2009-2012, Problems, America, issues, united states of america, Presidency, President, Speech, Challenges, Equality, Justice, the fight
“History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks of President Barack Obama -- Address to Joint Session of Congress, February 24, 2009
Tagged: Obama: First Term 2009-2012, Politics, Congress, America, recession, banks, Finance, market, Economy
“Let’s, first of all, be clear: It is more important that I’m Michelle’s husband than that I’m President of the United States.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks by the President and the First Lady at Visit of the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Athletes, April 03, 2014
Tagged: Obama: Second Term, olympics, Love, Relationships, President, michelle obama, sweethearts, Politics, power couple
“Forcing people to adhere to outmoded, rigid notions of identity isn’t good for anybody—men, women, gay, straight, transgender, or otherwise. These stereotypes limit our ability to simply be ourselves.”
— Barack Obama, Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, "This Is What a Feminist Looks Like"
Tagged: Gender Norms, Identity, stereotypes, Be yourself
“The question they have to ask themselves is: If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?”
— Barack Obama, Obama Says Republicans Should Withdraw Support for Trump
Tagged: Election, Trump
“You can tell that I'm a lame duck, because nobody is following instructions! Everyone have a seat.”
— Barack Obama, President Obama’s Farewell Address
Tagged: Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Politics, News
“By almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than when we started.”
— Barack Obama, President Obama’s Farewell Address
Tagged: Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Politics, News
“For us to have had this opportunity and to be able to make this much change, as much as we wish that we could have gotten everything done, it’s remarkable.”
— Barack Obama, Obama Reckons with a Trump Presidency
Tagged: Presidency, Quote of the Moment, 2016 Election, Barack Obama, Democrats, Donald Trump, elections, Hillary Clinton, Legacies, Misinformation, News, Presidencies, Presidential Campaigns, Presidents, White House
“As this discussion reflects,”
— Barack Obama, I tend to take a long view on things.
“What makes us American is our fidelity to a set of ideals.”
— Barack Obama
Tagged: America
“No matter what happens, the sun will rise in the morning.”
— Barack Obama
Tagged: Election 2016
“America will still be the greatest nation on earth.”
— Barack Obama
Tagged: Election 2016
“I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. It is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.”
— Barack Obama, Remarks of President Barack Obama -- Address to Joint Session of Congress
Tagged: Obama: First Term 2009-2012, Politics, Congress, America, recession, banks, Finance, market, Economy
“While I’ll keep working on good policies—from equal pay for equal work to protecting reproductive rights—there are some changes that have nothing to do with passing new laws.

In fact, the most important change may be the toughest of all—and that’s changing ourselves.”
— Barack Obama, Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, "This Is What a Feminist Looks Like"
Tagged: Change, feminism, Women's Rights, Equality
“When everybody is equal, we are all more free.”
— Barack Obama, Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, "This Is What a Feminist Looks Like"
Tagged: Equality, Freedom
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