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Barack Obama

1,038 quotes

“Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like Astrid, or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in? Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger –- we were strangers once, too.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba. In the most significant changes in our policy in more than fifty years, we will end an outdated approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries. Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities for the American and Cuban people, and begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas.”
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“Nobody represents America’s values better than the American people, and I believe this contact will ultimately do more to empower the Cuban people.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I believe in the free flow of information. Unfortunately, our sanctions on Cuba have denied Cubans access to technology that has empowered individuals around the globe. So I’ve authorized increased telecommunications connections between the United States and Cuba. Businesses will be able to sell goods that enable Cubans to communicate with the United States and other countries.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Let us leave behind the legacy of both colonization and communism, the tyranny of drug cartels, dictators and sham elections. A future of greater peace, security and democratic development is possible if we work together -- not to maintain power, not to secure vested interest, but instead to advance the dreams of our citizens.”
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“My fellow Americans, the city of Miami is only 200 miles or so from Havana. Countless thousands of Cubans have come to Miami -- on planes and makeshift rafts; some with little but the shirt on their back and hope in their hearts. Today, Miami is often referred to as the capital of Latin America. But it is also a profoundly American city -– a place that reminds us that ideals matter more than the color of our skin, or the circumstances of our birth; a demonstration of what the Cuban people can achieve, and the openness of the United States to our family to the South. Todos somos Americanos.”
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“Change is hard –- in our own lives, and in the lives of nations. And change is even harder when we carry the heavy weight of history on our shoulders. But today we are making these changes because it is the right thing to do. Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past so as to reach for a better future –- for the Cuban people, for the American people, for our entire hemisphere, and for the world.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It's time to close Gitmo.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address (January 20, 2015)
“It is entirely legitimate for the American people to be deeply concerned when you’ve got a bunch of violent, vicious zealots who behead people or randomly shoot a bunch of folks in a deli in Paris.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As reported by Vox; "Obama outrages by calling 4 Jewish victims of Paris terror 'a bunch of folks' shot randomly", by Cheryl K. Chumley, The Washington Times (10 February 2015)
“No religion is responsible for terrorism — people are responsible for violence and terrorism.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: At the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (18 February 2015)
“Today is a chance for Americans, especially our young people, to say thank you for all the things we love from Japan. Like karate and karaoke. Manga and anime. And, of course, emojis.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Comicbook.com (2015/04/29)
“We do know that once again innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: President Obama calls Charleston shooting 'senseless,' criticizes gun laws" by Jose A. DelReal and Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post (18 June 2015)
“Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: President Barack Obama on Twitter at June 26, 2015
“But the fall of Ramadi has galvanized the Iraqi government. So, with the additional steps I ordered last month, we’re speeding up training of ISIL forces, including volunteers from Sunni tribes in Anbar Province.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And as I’ve said elsewhere, a free press helps make a nation stronger and more successful, and it makes us leaders more effective because it demands greater accountability.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama and President Kenyatta of Kenya in a Press Conference at Kenyan State House in Nairobi, Kenya (July 25, 2015)
“So I’m unequivocal on this. If somebody is a law-abiding citizen who is going about their business, and working in a job, an obeying the traffic signs and doing all the other things that good citizens are supposed to do, and not harming anybody -- the idea that they are going to be treated differently or abused because of who they love is wrong. Full stop. And the state does not need to weigh in on religious doctrine. The state just has to say we’re going to treat everybody equally under the law. And then everybody else can have their own opinions.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama and President Kenyatta of Kenya in a Press Conference at Kenyan State House in Nairobi, Kenya (July 25, 2015)
“And this is something that I emphasize wherever I go -- democracy does not stop on Election Day. For a real democracy to work, and for a society to thrive and continually improve, it requires that people continue to participate. And there have to be laws in place to protect that space and facilitate people’s ability to participate.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama in Conversation with Members of Civil Society at YALI Regional Leadership Center, Kenyatta University,Nairobi, Kenya (July 26, 2015)
“And one of the rules of good civil society I believe is that you’re respectful of the people who disagree with you. And that's part of what makes civil society work. If you can have civil disagreements, and you can listen to each other and not just shout, that's what creates an environment that leads to progress over the long term.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama in Conversation with Members of Civil Society at YALI Regional Leadership Center, Kenyatta University,Nairobi, Kenya (July 26, 2015)
“The only certainty in war is human suffering, uncertain costs, unintended consequences.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks by the President on the Iran Nuclear Deal at American University in Washington, D.C. (August 05, 2015)
“Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: President Barack Obama on Twitter at September 16, 2015
“I've said this before and I will keep repeating it -- one of the best indicators of whether a country will succeed is how it treats its women. When women have an education, when women have a job, their children are more likely to get an education, their families are healthier and more prosperous. Their communities and countries do better, as well. So every nation -- all of our nations -- must invest in the education and health and skills of our women and girls.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by the President on Sustainable Development Goals at United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, New York (September 27, 2015)
“We're also increasing the number of Syrian and other refugees we admit to the U.S. to 100,000 per year for the next two years.”
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Recorded in: President Barack Obama on Twitter at September 28, 2015
“Most of the time I got a ticket, I deserved it. I knew why I was pulled over. But there were times when I didn’t. The data shows that this is not an aberration. It doesn’t mean each case is a problem. It means that when you aggregate all the cases and you look at it, you’ve gotta say that there’s some racial bias in the system.”
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Recorded in: Obama Racial Profiling (10-27-2015)
“We’ve got to resist the false trap that says either there should be no accountability for police or that every police officer is suspect no matter what they do.”
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“I refuse to accept the notion that we couldn’t have prevented some of those murders, and suicides, and kept more families whole. I know we won’t all agree on this issue. But it’s time to be honest — fewer gun safety laws don’t mean more freedom, they mean more fallen officers. They mean more grieving families, and more Americans terrified that they or their loved ones could be next.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Obama Police Chiefs (10-27-2015)
“Part of our job, together, is to work to reject such extremism that infects too many of our young people. Part of that effort must be a continued rejection by Muslims of those who distort Islam to preach intolerance and promote violence, and it must also a rejection by non-Muslims of the ignorance that equates Islam with terror.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama to the United Nations General Assembly (September 28, 2015)
“I don’t think they’re gaining strength, what is true is that from the start, our goal has been first to contain and we have contained them. They have not gained ground in Iraq, and in Syria, they’ll come in, they’ll leave. But you don’t see this systematic march by ISIL across the terrain.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: ABC News, when George Stephanopoulos suggested ISIL is gaining strength, hours before Paris attacks (13 November 2015)
“Once again, we've seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it's an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement by the President on the Situation in Paris (November 13, 2015)
“I don't want to speculate at this point in terms of who was responsible for this.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement by the President on the Situation in Paris (November 13, 2015)
“The reason is not simply because of my opinion of him. It is because it is unimaginable that you can stop the civil war there when the overwhelming majority of people in Syria consider him to be a brutal, murderous dictator.”
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Recorded in: Obama suggesting Bashar al-Assad must leave office to end the Syrian Civil War (19 November 2015)
“Next week, I will be joining President Hollande and world leaders in Paris for the global climate conference. What a powerful rebuke to the terrorists it will be when the world stands as one and shows that we will not be deterred from building a better future for our children.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama and President Hollande of France in Joint Press Conference (November 24, 2015)
“Turkey, like every country, has a right to defend its territory and its airspace.”
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Recorded in: Remarks by President Obama and President Hollande of France in Joint Press Conference (November 24, 2015)
“This [mass shootings] just doesn't happen in other countries.”
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Recorded in: Obama Speaking in Paris: Mass Shootings 'Don't Happen in Other Countries' by Alex Griswold, mediaite.com (1 December 2015)
“OK, everybody, I got to get to Star Wars.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Obama cuts off press conference to go see 'Star Wars'", The Hill (18 December 2015)
“The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong.”
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“We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.”
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“Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got to fix a broken system.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Looking to the future instead of the past. Making sure we match our power with diplomacy, and use force wisely. Building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities. Leading -- always -- with the example of our values. That’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. That’s why we have to keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards -- our own.”
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“2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does: 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century.”
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“You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America or a conservative America; a black America or a white America -- but a United States of America.”
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“So today, let me say: Sisters and brothers of India — my confidence in what our nations can achieve together is rooted in the values we share. For we may have our different histories and speak different languages, but when we look at each other, we see a reflection of ourselves.”
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“We’ll continue to help India deal with the impacts of climate change -- because you shouldn’t have to bear that burden alone. As we keep working for a strong global agreement on climate change, it's young people like you who have to speak up, so we can protect this planet for your generation. I'll be gone when the worst effects happen. It's your generation and your children that are going to be impacted.”
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“Because in big and diverse societies like ours, progress ultimately depends on something more basic, and that is how we see each other. And we know from experience what makes nations strong. And Neha I think did a great job of describing the essence of what’s important here. We are strongest when we see the inherent dignity in every human being.”
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“The point is, is that the aim of our work must be not to just have a few do well, but to have everybody have a chance, everybody who is willing to work for it have the ability to dream big and then reach those dreams.”
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“In our lives, Michelle and I have been strengthened by our Christian faith. But there have been times where my faith has been questioned – by people who don't know me – or they've said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing.”
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“The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts. And it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe, and rejoice in the beauty of every soul. [...] Do we act with compassion and empathy. [...] we have to guard against any efforts to divide ourselves along sectarian lines or any other lines.”
Barack Obama (born 1961) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And, finally, our nations are strongest when we empower our young people –- because ultimately, you're the one who has to break down these old stereotypes and these old barriers, these old ways of thinking. Prejudices and stereotypes and assumptions -- those are what happens to old minds like mine. I'm getting gray hair now. I was more youthful when I first started this office. And that’s why young people are so important in these efforts.”
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“If Selma taught us anything, it’s that our work is never done. The American experiment in self-government gives work and purpose to each generation.”
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“Selma teaches us, as well, that action requires that we shed our cynicism. For when it comes to the pursuit of justice, we can afford neither complacency nor despair.”
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“What’s our excuse today for not voting? How do we so casually discard the right for which so many fought? How do we so fully give away our power, our voice, in shaping America’s future? Why are we pointing to somebody else when we could take the time just to go to the polling places? We give away our power.”
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