Famous quotes
Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,269 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
EnglishItalianoPolskiעבריתFrançaisPortuguêsفارسیEspañol中文РусскийDeutschالعربيةहिन्दी日本語ΕλληνικάLatina
Barack Obama
1,038 quotes
“First, the shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, and the protests, then the targeting of police by the shooter here -- an act not just of demented violence but of racial hatred. All of it has left us wounded, and angry, and hurt. It’s as if the deepest fault lines of our democracy have suddenly been exposed, perhaps even widened. And although we know that such divisions are not new -- though they have surely been worse in even the recent past -- that offers us little comfort.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We know that the overwhelming majority of police officers do an incredibly hard and dangerous job fairly and professionally. They are deserving of our respect and not our scorn. And when anyone, no matter how good their intentions may be, paints all police as biased or bigoted, we undermine those officers we depend on for our safety. And as for those who use rhetoric suggesting harm to police, even if they don’t act on it themselves -- well, they not only make the jobs of police officers even more dangerous, but they do a disservice to the very cause of justice that they claim to promote.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the end, it's not about finding policies that work; it’s about forging consensus, and fighting cynicism, and finding the will to make change. Can we do this? Can we find the character, as Americans, to open our hearts to each other? Can we see in each other a common humanity and a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us? And it doesn’t make anybody perfectly good or perfectly bad, it just makes us human.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For all of us, life presents challenges and suffering -- accidents, illnesses, the loss of loved ones. There are times when we are overwhelmed by sudden calamity, natural or manmade. All of us, we make mistakes. And at times we are lost. And as we get older, we learn we don’t always have control of things -- not even a President does. But we do have control over how we respond to the world. We do have control over how we treat one another.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“America does not ask us to be perfect. Precisely because of our individual imperfections, our founders gave us institutions to guard against tyranny and ensure no one is above the law; a democracy that gives us the space to work through our differences and debate them peacefully, to make things better, even if it doesn’t always happen as fast as we’d like. America gives us the capacity to change.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Only by working together can we preserve those institutions of family and community, rights and responsibilities, law and self-government that is the hallmark of this nation. For, it turns out, we do not persevere alone. Our character is not found in isolation. Hope does not arise by putting our fellow man down; it is found by lifting others up.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Five days ago, I traveled to Dallas for the memorial service of the officers who were slain there. I said that that killer would not be the last person who tries to make us turn on each other. Nor will today’s killer. It remains up to us to make sure that they fail. That decision is all of ours. The decision to make sure that our best selves are reflected across America, not our worst -- that’s up to us.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A lot has happened over the years. And while this nation has been tested by war, and it's been tested by recession and all manner of challenges — I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as your president, to tell you I am more optimistic about the future of America than ever before. How could I not be — after all that we’ve achieved together? After the worst recession in 80 years, we fought our way back.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And we shared the story of Korean War veteran Dick Shank, who made it home to that baby boy, and lived out his life -- at 84 years old, he was still roller skating -- because no war should ever be forgotten and no veteran should ever be overlooked.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To all of you who served in Iraq, we saw your heroism in pushing out a dictator whose brutality must be condemned, never praised. In defeating an insurgency. In giving the Iraqi people a chance. And no matter what has happened since, your valor in the deserts, in fierce urban combat, will be honored in the annals of military history.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let me say something else about this generation. As Commander-in-Chief, I’m pretty tired of some folks trash-talking America’s military and troops.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“America’s Army is the best-trained, best-equipped land force on the planet. Our Navy is the largest and most lethal in the world. The precision of, and reach of, our Air Force is unmatched. Our Marines are the world’s only truly expeditionary force. We have the world’s finest Coast Guard. We have the most capable fighting force in history -- and we’re going to keep it that way.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“No ally or adversary should ever doubt our strength and our resolve.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We will keep pounding ISIL and taking out their leaders, and pushing them back on the ground. And united with a global coalition, we will destroy this barbaric terrorist group. They will be destroyed.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the face of Russian aggression, we’re not going to turn our back to our allies in Europe. We’re going to stay united in NATO, which is the world’s strongest alliance.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“From the Asia Pacific to Africa to the Americas, the United States and our armed forces will remain the greatest force for freedom and security and peace that the world has ever known. That is your legacy. That is what we have to protect, and that is what we have to defend.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“No one -- no one -- has given more for our freedom and our security than our Gold Star families. ... They represent the very best of our country. They continue to inspire us every day, every moment. They serve as a powerful reminder of the true strength of America. We have to do everything we can for those families, and honor them, and be humbled by them.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We believe in taking care of each other, and in lifting each other up, and leaving no one behind, and in meeting the collective responsibilities that we can only meet together: The security of our nation. The education for our children. Dignity for our seniors. Equal rights for all of our citizens. Health care -- which is now a right for everybody. And the care and well-being of our veterans and your families. That is a responsibility for all of us, not just a few. We all have to do our part.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We need to keep improving mental health care. I’ll never forget the soldiers I met at Fort Bliss. They were proud of their service, but they were struggling with issues like post-traumatic stress. So, for veterans with PTS, we made it easier for you to qualify for the VA care that you need -- no matter when you served. We’ve increased funding for veterans mental health care by more than 75 percent -- billions more dollars. More awareness and outreach -- because we have to end any shame or stigma that comes with going and getting help.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We’re one team. One American family. When any member of our family is suffering, we’ve got to be there for each other. ... We have to keep on uniting as one team. As one people. As one nation.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Today, a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That’s why we’ve worked with other nations to create higher and clearer standards for banking and taxation -- because a society that asks less of oligarchs than ordinary citizens will rot from within. That’s why we’ve pushed for transparency and cooperation in rooting out corruption, and tracking illicit dollars, because markets create more jobs when they're fueled by hard work, and not the capacity to extort a bribe.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So those of us who believe in democracy, we need to speak out forcefully, because both the facts and history, I believe, are on our side. That doesn’t mean democracies are without flaws. It does mean that the cure for what ails our democracies is greater engagement by our citizens -- not less.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We cannot escape the prospect of nuclear war unless we all commit to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and pursuing a world without them.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Sometimes I'm criticized in my own country for professing a belief in international norms and multilateral institutions. But I am convinced that in the long run, giving up some freedom of action – not giving up our ability to protect ourselves or pursue our core interests, but binding ourselves to international rules over the long term – enhances our security.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Well, I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-elect Trump. It was wide-ranging. We talked about some of the organizational issues in setting up a White House. We talked about foreign policy. We talked about domestic policy.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And as I said last night, my number one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our president-elect is successful.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And I had been very encouraged by the, I think, interest in President-elect Trump’s wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. And I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together to deal with the many challenges that we face.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And in the meantime, Michelle has had a chance to greet the incoming First Lady. And we had an excellent conversation with her as well. And we want to make sure that they feel welcome as they prepare to make this transition.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And most of all, I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President-elect, that we now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed, because if you succeed, then the country succeeds.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But as long as we stay true to our democratic principles, as long as elections have integrity, as long as we respect freedom of speech, freedom of religion, as long as there are checks and balances in our governments so that the people have the ability to not just make judgments about how well government is serving them but also change governments if they're not serving them well -- then I have confidence that over the long term, progress will continue.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You cannot purchase people’s consent through killing them.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I’m still asking you to believe – not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours. I believe in change because I believe in you.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: President Obama on Twitter at January 20, 2017; archived from the original on August 28, 2020. As quoted by ABC Radio (2017) and presented in the 2017-01-20 article "Obamas Offer Goodbye Message as They Leave the White …
“As I’ve said many times before, true democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us. It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, any one government. It’s a job for all of us. It requires everyday sustained effort from all of us — the work of perfecting our union is never finished. We look forward to joining you in that effort as fellow citizens.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 2020-07-20 Youtube Video "What's Next from Barack and Michelle Obama" Upload by the Obama Foundation and retrieved on August 28, 2020. As quoted by ABC Radio (2017) and presented in the 2017-01-20 article "Obamas Offer …
“People have a tendency to blame politicians when things don't work, but as I always tell people, you get the politicians you deserve. And if you don't vote and you don't pay attention, you'll get policies that don't reflect your interest.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking at a summit on food innovation in Milan, Italy on May 9, 2017. Source: Conway, Madeline (9 May 2017). "Obama: 'You get the politicians you deserve'". Politico. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retriev…
“If I become so convinced that ‘I’m always right,’ the logical conclusion of that often ends up being great cruelty and great violence.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking during a discussion at "Kirchentag," a multi-day meeting sponsored by the Protestant church in Germany in Berlin, Germany on May 25, 2017. Source: Dovere, Edward-Isaac (25 May 2017). "Obama in Berlin: 'We can’t…
“We can find people on the internet who agree with our ideas, no matter how crazy. Democracies do not work if we are not operating on some level based on reason and fact and logic - and not just passion. We're going to have to find ways to push back on propaganda and listen to those we don't agree with.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking after receiving a German media prize award in Baden-Baden, Germany on May 25, 2017. Source: Kirschbaum, Erik (25 May 2017). "In Berlin, Obama speaks out against hiding behind walls". Reuters via nasdaq.com. Arc…
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. ... People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. ... For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/896523357272911872 Speaking via twitter on August 13, 2017 in response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally in harlottesville, Virginia and quoting Nelson Mandela. Archived via Waybac…
“If I had told you eight years ago that America would reverse a great recession, reboot our auto industry, and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history . . . open up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shut down Iran's nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, take out the mastermind of 9/11 . . . win marriage equality, and secure the right to health insurance for another 20 million of our fellow citizens . . . you might have said our sights were set a little too high. But that's what we did. That's what you did.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[W]hat I want to focus on tonight [is the] state of our democracy. Understand, democracy does not require uniformity. Our founders argued. They quarreled. Eventually they compromised. They expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity - the idea that for all our outward differences, we're all in this together; that we rise or fall as one.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[I]f anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we've made to our health care system and that covers as many people at less cost, I will publicly support it.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I agree, our trade should be fair and not just free. But the next wave of economic dislocations won't come from overseas. It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes a lot of good, middle-class jobs obsolete.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworking white middle class and an undeserving minority, then workers of all shades are going to be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Politics is a battle of ideas. That's how our democracy was designed. In the course of a healthy debate, we prioritize different goals, and the different means of reaching them. But without some common baseline of facts, without a willingness to admit new information, and concede that your opponent might be making a fair point, and that science and reason matter - then we're going to keep talking past each other, and we'll make common ground and compromise impossible.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[W]ithout bolder action, our children won't have time to debate the existence of climate change. They'll be busy dealing with its effects: more environmental disasters, more economic disruptions, waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[T]o all who serve or have served, it has been the honor of my lifetime to be your Commander-in-Chief. And we all owe you a deep debt of gratitude. But protecting our way of life, that's not just the job of our military. . . . So, just as we, as citizens, must remain vigilant against external aggression, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If the scope of freedom and respect for the rule of law shrinks around the world, the likelihood of war within and between nations increases, and our own freedoms will eventually be threatened.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we've been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we, in fact, all share the same proud title, the most important office in a democracy: Citizen. Citizen.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change - but in yours. I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written: Yes, we can. Yes, we did. Yes, we can.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I believe in this country. I believe in the American people. I believe that people are more good than bad. I believe tragic things happen. I think there’s evil in the world, but I think at the end of the day, if we work hard and if we’re true to those things in us that feel true and feel right, that the world gets a little better each time. That’s what this presidency has tried to be about.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source