Quotessence
Home / Authors / Barack Obama
Barack Obama

Barack Obama Quotes

44th U.S. President

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleThinkingIfsAmericaWorldCountryStatesPresidentKnowsWant

Famous Barack Obama Quotes

“We don't turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, knowing that Providence is with us, and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on Earth.”

EyeEarthTurnsNationsBehindsMistakeKnowingVictoryCitizensDrawsBlessedFixedHorizonProvidenceLearning From Our Mistakes
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“[A] family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That's wrong. That's why, since the last time this Congress raised the minimum wage, 19 states have chosen to bump theirs even higher. Tonight, let's declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour.”

ShouldStillsTwoStatesKidsEarthLastsPoliticalNationsHoursLinesPovertyHigherShould HaveRaisesRaisedCongressChosenTonightMinimumLast TimeBumpsMinimum WageStill Life
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.”

ChildrenDoneMomentsCareAmericaTurnsHopeWalksCitiesEconomyPromiseProtectElectionScriptureMarchFarmsEducateVeteranPledgeWaveringWork To Be Done
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“When we don't pay close attention to the decisions made by our leaders, when we fail to educate ourselves about the major issues of the day, when we choose not to make our voices and opinions heard, that's when democracy breaks down. That's when power is abused. That's when the most extreme voices in our society fill the void that we leave. That's when powerful interests and their lobbyists are most able to buy access and influence in the corridors of power - because none of us are there to speak up and stop them.”

MadeAbleSpeakVoiceInterestDecisionPowerfulPayAttentionLeaderOpinionBreakDemocracyIssuesFailingHeardInfluenceMajorsExtremesAccessOur SocietyEducateVoidBreaking DownCorridorsLobbyistsDecisions MadePersonal LeadershipFill The Void
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“We've got a tax code that is encouraging flight of jobs and outsourcing. And that's why we've specifically recommended in this campaign that Congress change our tax code so that we stop giving tax breaks to companies that are moving to Mexico and China and other places, and start putting those tax breaks into companies that are investing here in the United States.”

GivingStatesJobsMovingUnitedCompanyBreakUnited StatesTaxesInvestingCongressChinaFlightCodeMexicoOutsourcingTax Breaks
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars or more fuel-efficient appliances, or making sure that we are putting in place the kinds of equipment that prevents harm to the ozone layer and eliminates acid rain. At every one of these steps, there have been folks who have said it can't be done. There have been naysayers who said this is going to destroy jobs and destroy industry. And it doesn't happen because once we have a clear target to meet, we typically meet it. And we find the best ways to do it.”

WayKindHas BeensSaidDoneHappensJobsStepsClearCarIndustryRainClimateFolksHarmBest WayFuelTargetEfficientLayersEquipmentAcidAppliancesNaysayersOzoneOzone LayerAcid Rain
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Part of what's unique about climate change, though, is the nature of some of the opposition to action. It's pretty rare that you'll encounter somebody who says the problem you're trying to solve simply doesn't exist. When President Kennedy set us on a course for the moon, there were a number of people who made a serious case that it wouldn't be worth it; it was going to be too expensive, it was going to be too hard, it would take too long. But nobody ignored the science. I don't remember anybody saying that the moon wasn't there or that it was made of cheese.”

PeopleTryingLongMadeHardProblemActionRememberCoursesPresidentNumbersCasesSeriousMoonUniqueClimateClimate ChangeSolveEncountersExpensiveOppositionCheeseWorth ItIgnoredPresident Kennedy
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“We need scientists to design new fuels. We need farmers to help grow them. We need engineers to invent new technologies. We need entrepreneurs to sell those technologies. We need workers to operate assembly lines that hum with high-tech, zero-carbon components. We need builders to hammer into place the foundations for a clean energy age. We need diplomats and businessmen and women, and Peace Corps volunteers to help developing nations skip past the dirty phase of development and transition to sustainable sources of energy. In other words, we need you.”

NeedsHelpingAgePastEnergyNationsGrowsLinesTechnologyDesignSourceDevelopmentMen And WomenScientistFoundationSellsEntrepreneurCleanClimateWorkersDevelopingDirtyFuelZeroTransitionFarmersEngineersPhasesVolunteerCarbonBusinessmanComponentsHammersNeed YouAssemblyNew TechnologyBuilderSkipDiplomatsClean EnergyAssembly LinePeace Corps
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Today, about 40 percent of America's carbon pollution comes from our power plants. There are no federal limits to the amount those plants can pump into the air. None. We limit the amount of toxic chemicals like mercury, and sulfur, and arsenic in our air and water, but power plants can dump as much carbon pollution into our atmosphere as they want. It's not smart, it's not right, it's not safe, and I determined it needs to stop.”

WantNeedsTodayAmericaWaterAirAmountSafeLimitsSmartPercentPlantClimateDeterminedAtmosphereChemicalsToxicPollutionCarbonDumpPumpsMercuryPower PlantsAir And WaterArsenicSulfurToxic Chemicals
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Yes, this is hard. But there should be no question that the United States of America is stepping up to the plate. We recognize our role in creating this problem; we embrace our responsibility to combat it. We will do our part, and we will help developing nations do theirs. But we can only succeed in combating climate change if we are joined in this effort by every nation - developed and developing alike. Nobody gets a pass.”

IfsShouldHardStatesHelpingProblemAmericaNationsUnitedEffortResponsibilityRolesUnited StatesSucceedCreatingEmbraceClimateClimate ChangeDevelopingCombatPlatesUnited States Of America
Author:Barack Obama
Create image