Quotessence
Home / Authors / Barack Obama
Barack Obama

Barack Obama Quotes

44th U.S. President

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleThinkingIfsAmericaWorldCountryStatesPresidentKnowsWantUnitedWayUnited StatesYearsNationsBelieveShouldEconomyNeedsHas Beens

Famous Barack Obama Quotes

“We have no authoritative figure, no Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow whom we all listen to and trust to sort out contradictory claims. Instead, the media is splintered into a thousand fragments, each with its own version of reality, each claiming the loyalty of a splintered nation.”

FactsUnited StatesMediaNewsWorld PoliticsWorld NewsWalter Cronkite
Book:The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Create image

“The absence of even rough agreement on the facts puts every opinion on equal footing and therefore eliminates the basis for thoughtful compromise. It rewards not those who are right, but those - like the White House press office - who can make their arguments most loudly, most frequently, most obstinately, and with the best backdrop.”

PoliticsOpinionUnited StatesMediaNewsArgumentCompromiseWhite HouseOpinionsBarack ObamaPress
Book:The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Create image

“America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world. We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.”

WorldGivingHas BeensEndsSelfStatesEarthAmericaCultureBornSimpleUnitedKnownUnited StatesProgressBloodCenturySourceRevolutionEqualConceptsIdealsAround The WorldBordersEmpiresDedicatedShedStereotypeCrude
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“We can't afford to stand pat while the world races by. The United States of America did not become the most prosperous nation on Earth by sheer luck or happenstance. We got here because each time a generation of Americans has faced a changing world, we have changed with it. We have not feared our future; we have shaped it.”

WorldStatesEarthAmericaNationsUnitedRaceUnited StatesGenerationsChangedLuckOur FutureSheerUnited States Of AmericaProsperousHappenstance
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“If we [American nation] are only thinking about tomorrow or the next day and not thinking about 10 years from now, we're not going to control our own economic future, because China, Germany - they're making these [clean energy] investments. And I'm not going to cede those jobs of the future to those countries. I expect those new energy sources to be built right here in the United States.”

IfsThinkingYearsCountryStatesJobsNextEnergyNationsUnitedUnited StatesEconomicSourceTomorrowBuiltCleanInvestmentChinaGermanyNext DayClean EnergyEnergy SourcesNew Energy
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Our efforts will only be effective if ordinary citizens in other countries have confidence that the United States respects their privacy too. And the leaders of our close friends and allies deserve to know that if I want to learn what they think about an issue, I will pick up the phone and call them, rather than turning to surveillance.”

IfsThinkingKnowsWantCountryStatesUnitedEffortLeaderUnited StatesIssuesCitizensOrdinaryPicksDeservePhonesPrivacyAlliesOther CountriesSurveillanceHave ConfidenceNsaClose FriendsOrdinary Citizens
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“The United States of America has helped underwrite the global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans.”

MenStatesAmericaUnitedUnited StatesDemocracySacrificeBloodSecurityArmsCitizensSixMen And WomenProsperityDecadesGermanyUniformsUnited States Of AmericaKoreaBalkansService And Sacrifice
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“I believe the United States of America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war. That is what makes us different from those whom we fight. That is a source of our strength. That is why I prohibited torture. That is why I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. And that is why I have reaffirmed America's commitment to abide by the Geneva conventions. We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend.”

BelieveDifferentWarStatesAmericaFightingI BelieveLosesUnitedUnited StatesSourceStandardsCommitmentIdealsPrisonCompromiseTortureConventionsUnited States Of AmericaGenevaGuantanamoGuantanamo BayGeneva Convention
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“It's a moral imperative, it's an economic imperative, and it is a security imperative. For we've seen how spikes in food prices can plunge millions into poverty, which, in turn, can spark riots that cost lives, and can lead to instability. And this danger will only grow if a surging global population isn't matched by surging food production. So reducing malnutrition and hunger around the world advances international peace and security - and that includes the national security of the United States.”

IfsWorldStatesTurnsGrowsUnitedMoralPovertyMillionsUnited StatesEconomicSecurityDangerCostInternationalHungerPopulationProductionsAround The WorldSparksNational SecurityImperativesReducingRiotPlungeInstabilityMatchedMalnutritionInternational PeacePeace And SecurityFood Production
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“As the United States begins a new chapter in our relationship with Cuba, we hope it will create an environment that improves the lives of the Cuban people, not because it is imposed by us, the United States, but through the talent and ingenuity and aspirations, and the conversations among Cubans from all walks of life so they can decide what the best course is for their prosperity.”

PeopleLifeStatesCoursesWalksUnitedUnited StatesEnvironmentTalentConversationProsperityAspirationOur RelationshipChaptersCubaIngenuityCubanWalks Of Life
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“This self-reflection, this willingness to examine ourselves, to make corrections, to do better, that's part of what makes us Americans. It's part of what sets us apart from other nations, the United States is the most professional, most capable, most cutting-edge intelligence community in the world.”

WorldSelfStatesNationsCommunityUnitedUnited StatesCuttingCapableReflectionEdgesWillingnessSelf ReflectionCorrectionsCutting EdgeIntelligence Community
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us such a world power. Hundreds of millions of people may never set foot in the United States, but thanks to you, they've experienced a small part of what makes our country special. They've learned something about our values. We have shaped a world culture through you...in a way that has made the world better.”

PeopleWorldWayBelieveMayMadeCountryStatesValuesCultureUnitedMillionsUnited StatesFeetSpecialEntertainmentOur CountryThanksDiplomacyExceptionalSmall PartsWorld Power
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“The president of the United States is supposed to lead the free world and not follow it. Other nations have been more outspoken. So, I hope that we'll hear more of this because young men and women taking to the streets in Tehran need our support. The signs are in English. They're basically asking for us to speak up on their behalf.”

MenWorldNeedsHas BeensStatesYoungSpeakNationsPresidentUnitedUnited StatesSupportStreetsMen And WomenAskingYoung ManBehalfOutspokenFree WorldTehran
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Since 1981, after our nations severed diplomatic relations, we've worked through a international tribunal to resolve various claims between our countries. The United States and Iran are now settling a long-standing Iranian government claim against the United States government. Iran will be returned its own funds, including appropriate interest but much less than the amount Iran sought. With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well.”

WellsLongCountryStatesDoneGovernmentNationsInterestUnitedDealsUnited StatesAmountStandingClaimsRelationIncludingInternationalVariousNuclearOur CountrySettlingAppropriateFundIranResolvePrisonerDisputesIranianDiplomaticState GovernmentUnited States GovernmentTribunalsDiplomatic Relations
Author:Barack Obama
Create image

“Even as we implement the nuclear deal and welcome our Americans home, we recognize that there remain about differences between the United States and Iran. We remain steadfast in opposing Iran's destabilizing behavior elsewhere, including its against Israel and our Gulf partners and its support for violent proxies in places like Syria and Yemen.”

StatesHomeDifferencesUnitedDealsUnited StatesSupportBehaviorIncludingIsraelNuclearPartnersViolentWelcomeIranElsewhereSyriaOpposingSteadfastProxyYemen
Author:Barack Obama
Create image