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Barack Obama Quotes

44th U.S. President

Barack Obama, born on August 4, 1961, served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama's presidency was marked by significant achievements, including the Affordable Care Act and the normalization of relations with Cuba. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

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Famous Barack Obama Quotes

“I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”

Years I Can Form Family Plans Taxes Gains Increase Income Firm Pledge Income Tax Payroll Tax Increases Capital Gains Payroll Tax Capital Gains Tax

Author:Barack Obama

“I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.”

Ifs Want Years Firsts Two Mother Values Mistake Moral Teach Baby Daughter Two Daughters Values And Morals

Author:Barack Obama

“And we can see the positive impacts right here at Solyndra. Less than a year ago, we were standing on what was an empty lot. But through the Recovery Act, this company received a loan to expand its operations. This new factory is the result of those loans.”

Years Results Company Positive Years Ago Standing Empty Impact Recovery Operations Factories Loan Positive Impact

Author:Barack Obama

“Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did. I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. We have. We've blunted the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, and in 2014, our longest war will be over. A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al Qaeda is on the path to defeat, and Osama bin Laden is dead.”

“But let me perfectly clear, because I know you'll hear the same old claims that rolling back these tax breaks means a massive tax increase on the American people: if your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime.”

People Ifs Knows Years Mean Family Break Clear Taxes Let Me Claims Increase Repeats Massive Rolling Dimes Tax Breaks Tax Increases

Author:Barack Obama

“After a century of striving, after a year of debate, after a historic vote, health care reform is no longer an unmet promise. It is the law of the land.”

Years Care Law Powerful Land Century Promise Vote Strive Debate Reform Health Care Historic Health Care Reform

Author:Barack Obama

“And we have done more in the two and a half years that I've been in here than the previous 43 Presidents to uphold that principle, whether it's ending 'don't ask, don't tell,' making sure that gay and lesbian partners can visit each other in hospitals, making sure that federal benefits can be provided to same-sex couples.”

Years Two Done Asks Sex President Half Principles Couple Gay Benefits Partners Hospitals Half A Year

Author:Barack Obama

“Here at this site, Solyndra expects to make enough solar panels each year to generate 500 megawatts of electricity. And over the lifetime of this expanded facility, that could be like replacing as many as eight coal-fired power plants.”

Years Enough Plant Lifetime Eight Site Electricity Coal Facility Power Plants Solar Panels

Author:Barack Obama

“And so our goal on health care is, if we can get, instead of health care costs going up 6 percent a year, it's going up at the level of inflation, maybe just slightly above inflation, we've made huge progress. And by the way, that is the single most important thing we could do in terms of reducing our deficit. That's why we did it.”

Ifs Way Years Made Important Care Goal Term Levels Progress Huge Cost Percent Important Things Health Care Inflation Deficit Reducing Health Care Costs

Author:Barack Obama

“Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation - not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago.”

Years Made Two Nations Simple Economy Military Greatness Pride Hundred Years Ago Size Height Tonight Patriotic Declaration Premises Skyscraper

Author:Barack Obama

“I will never turn Medicare into a voucher. No American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies. They should retire with the care and dignity they have earned.”

Should Years Care Turns Company Dignity Mercy Golden Retiring Medicare Insurance Companies Vouchers Golden Years

Author:Barack Obama

“My task over the last two years hasn't just been to stop the bleeding. My task has also been to try to figure out how do we address some of the structural problems in the economy that have prevented more Googles from being created.”

Trying Years Two Problem Lasts Economy Figures Capitalism Tasks Addresses Two Years Google Bleeding

Author:Barack Obama

“I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president - with the possible exceptions of Johnson, FDR, and Lincoln - just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history. But, you know, but when it comes to the economy, we've got a lot more work to do. And we're gonna keep on at it.”

Knows Years Firsts Two Done President Term Economy Modern Policy Accomplishment Exception Two Years Foreign Policy Johnson Modern History

Author:Barack Obama

“I began feeling the way I imagine an actor or athlete must feel when, after years of commitment to a particular dream...he realizes that he's gone just about as far as talent or fortune will take him. The dream will not happen, and he now faces the choice of accepting this fact like a grownup and moving on to more sensible pursuits, or refusing the truth and ending up bitter, quarrelsome, and slightly pathetic.”

“There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

Knows Way Years Done Problem Hands Government America Faces Asks Nations President Challenges Decision Honest Policy Agree Solve Block Being Honest Disagree Bricks Setback Challenges We Face

Author:Barack Obama

“People are very hungry for something new. I think they are interested in being called to be a part of something larger than the sort of small, petty, slash-and-burn politics that we have been seeing over the last several years.”

People Thinking Years Has Beens Lasts Political Politics Seeing Hungry Something New Petty

Author:Barack Obama

“We need not throw away 200 years of American jurisprudence while we fight terrorism. We need not choose between our most deeply held values, and keeping this nation safe.”

Needs Years Values Fighting Nations Safe Terrorism Civil Rights Jurisprudence

Author:Barack Obama

“That's why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women - students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors - found the courage to keep it alive.”

Men Years Two Moments Found Teacher Alive Students Promise Ordinary Hundred Men And Women Soldier Thirty Tonight Two Years Farmers Nurse 4th Of July Ordinary Man Jeopardy Janitor

Author:Barack Obama

“Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. And for good reason: when people come here to fulfill their dreams - to study, invent, and contribute to our culture - they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone. So let's get immigration reform done this year.”

People Years Two Country Reason Done Dream Jobs Culture Next Grows Economy Study Independent Decades Immigration Our Country Reform Attractive Economist Deficit Shrinks Immigration Reform

Author:Barack Obama

“Number one, it is important that we fix the legal immigration system, because right now we've got a backlog that means years for people to apply legally. And what's worse is, we keep on increasing the fees, so that if you've got a hard working immigrant family, they've got to hire a lawyer; they've got to pay thousands of dollars in fees. They just can't afford it. And it's discriminatory against people who have good character, we should want in this country, but don't have the money. So we've got to fix that.”

“The system isn't working when 12 million people live in hiding, and hundreds of thousands cross our borders illegally each year; when companies hire undocumented immigrants instead of legal citizens to avoid paying overtime or to avoid a union; when communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids -- when nursing mothers are torn from their babies, when children come home from school to find their parents missing, when people are detained without access to legal counsel. When all that's happening, the system just isn't working.”

“I marched with you in the streets of Chicago to meet our immigration challenge. I fought with you in the Senate for comprehensive immigration reform. And I will make it a top priority in my first year as President.”

Years Firsts President Challenges Streets Priorities Immigration Reform Chicago Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Top Priorities

Author:Barack Obama

“I think back to the day I drove Michelle and a newborn Malia home from the hospital nearly 11 years ago - crawling along, miles under the speed limit, feeling the weight of my daughter's future resting in my hands. I think about the pledge I made to her that day: that I would give her what I never had - that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father. I knew that day that my own life wouldn't count for much unless she had every opportunity in hers.”

“For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. Now, it's true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods-all are now more frequent and more intense. We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science-and act before it's too late.”

“You got into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

“On Easter or Christmas Day, my mother might drag me to church, just as she dragged me to the Buddhist temple, the Chinese New Year celebration, the Shinto shrine, and ancient Hawaiian burial sites.”

Source: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

“This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out Isil wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.”

“This is an extraordinary achievement, nearly nine years in the making.”

Years War Achievement Extraordinary Nine Iraq War Nine Years Extraordinary Achievement

Author:Barack Obama

“And we remember the end of our combat mission and the emergence of a new dawn - the precision of our efforts against al Qaeda in Iraq, the professionalism of the training of Iraqi security forces, and the steady drawdown of our forces. In handing over responsibility to the Iraqis, you preserved the gains of the last four years and made this day possible.”

“We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year”

Years Mind Earth Lasts Nations Money Powerful Week Months Needed Crisis Workers Productive Goods Last Year Prosperous Goods And Services

Author:Barack Obama

“What we also have to recognize is that the deficit levels that I'm inheriting, over a trillion dollars, coming out of last year, that that is unsustainable. At a certain point, other countries stop buying our debt, at a certain point, we'd end up having to raise interest rates, and it would end up creating more economic chaos and potentially inflation.”

Years Ends Country Lasts Certain Interest Levels Money Economic Creating Raises Dollars Chaos Rate Debt Buying Coming Out Last Year Other Countries Inflation Deficit Interest Rate

Author:Barack Obama

“We right now give $15 billion every year as subsidies to private insurers under the Medicare system. Doesn't work any better through the private insurers. They just skim off $15 billion.”

Giving Years Money Right Now Billions Medicare Subsidies

Author:Barack Obama

“Here's what I can tell the American people: 95 percent of you will get a tax cut. And if you make less than $250,000, less than a quarter-million dollars a year, then you will not see one dime's worth of tax increase.”

People Ifs Years I Can Money Millions Cutting Taxes Percent Increase Dollars Quarters Million Dollars Dimes Tax Cuts Tax Increases

Author:Barack Obama

“We start this new year in the midst of an economic crisis unlike we have seen in our lifetime.”

Years Money Economic Crisis Lifetime Midst New Year Economic Crisis

Author:Barack Obama

“Today we're seeing that climate change is about more than a few unseasonably mild winters or hot summers. It's about the chain of natural catastrophes and devastating weather patterns that global warming is beginning to set off around the world.. the frequency and intensity of which are breaking records thousands of years old.”

Source: Barack Obama: Speeches on the Road to the White House

“When I touched my hand against the Western Wall and placed my prayer between its ancient stones, I thought of all the centuries that the children of Israel had longed to return to their ancient homeland. When I went to Sderot and saw the daily struggle to survive in the eyes of an eight-year-old boy who lost his leg to a Hamas rocket, and when I walked among the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem, I was reminded of the existential fear of Israelis when a modern dictator seeks nuclear weapons and threatens to wipe Israel off the face of the map - face of the Earth.”

“One of the proudest things of my three years in office is helping to restore a sense of respect for America around the world.”

World Years Helping America Three Office Around The World Three Years

Author:Barack Obama

“It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere...That's the world! On which hope sits!”

World Needs Years Running White This World Greed Folks Ships Apathy Port Apartheid Cruise Residents Hemisphere Cruise Ships

Book:Dreams From My Father

Source: Dreams From My Father

“I will sign a universal health-care bill into law by the end of my first term as president that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premium by up to $2,500 a year.”

Years Firsts Ends Care Law President Term Cutting Cost Universal Bills Health Care Typical Broken Promises Premium Breaking Promises Universal Health Care Promises That Are Broken

Book:Barack Obama: Speeches on the Road to the White House

Source: Barack Obama: Speeches on the Road to the White House

“I didn't become a Christian until many years later, when I moved to the South Side of Chicago after college. It happened not because of indoctrination or a sudden revelation, but because I spent month after month working with church folks who simply wanted to help neighbors who were down on their luck no matter what they looked like, or where they came from, or who they prayed to. It was on those streets, in those neighborhoods, that I first heard God's spirit beckon me. It was there that I felt called to a higher purpose - His purpose.”

“I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I would be doing so, I have no problem with Obama's long-planned 'change of heart.' This dude's made huge, measurable strides for gay rights, and if being coy about his plans for gay marriage for a few years was needed to get him elected, then so be it. LGBT persons will be better off, and federal same-sex marriage recognition will come sooner because of it.”

“The problem is that because the voucher wouldn't necessarily keep up with health care inflation, it was estimated that this would cost the average senior about $6,000 a year.”

Years Problem Care Cost Average Health Care Presidential Senior Inflation Vouchers

Author:Barack Obama

“Now, today, some children are enrolled in excellent programs. Some children are enrolled in mediocre programs. And some are wasting away their most formative years in bad programs....That's why I'm issuing a challenge to our states: Develop a cutting-edge plan to raise the quality of your early learning programs; show us how you'll work to ensure that children are better prepared for success by the time they enter kindergarten. If you do, we will support you with an Early Learning Challenge Grant that I call on Congress to enact.”

“Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008...That’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever before to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy, to the way we use it.”

Way Years Done Use Past Three Energy Week Produce Six Climate Climate Change Online Combat Over The Past Solar Power

Author:Barack Obama

“Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.”

Years Has Beens Years Ago Could Have Been Trayvon Martin Trayvon

Author:Barack Obama

“But today, just a few years into the twenty-first century, we already find ourselves in a different and precarious position. As revolutions in communications and technology have broken down barriers across the world, it has given more power to both our competitors and our enemies.”

World Years Firsts Different Today Given Inspiring Enemy Technology Century Position Communication Broken Revolution Twenties Barriers Competitors Precarious Broken Down

Author:Barack Obama

“I wouldn't be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago”

Men Years Today He Man Years Ago Marry Me

Author:Barack Obama

“Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.' Now I'm not making this up. This is somebody who's been in Congress for twenty-six years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he's the one who's gonna' to take on the old boys network. The old boys network? In the McCain campaign that's called a staff meeting. Come, on!”

Ifs Years Said President Powerful Boys Six Twenties Meetings Seven Congress Campaigns Yesterday Most Powerful Staff Mccain Lobbyists

Author:Barack Obama

“After a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999.”

Years Jobs America Economy Growing Creating Pace Breakthrough Creating Jobs

Author:Barack Obama

“My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol — to do what I believe is best for America.”

Years Believe Two America Next I Believe Steps Agendas Two Years Oath Capitol

Author:Barack Obama

About the Author

Born: August 4, 1961
Known for: 44th U.S. President
Quotes: 3188

Books & Sources

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American DreamRelated source material

Barack Obama: Speeches on the Road to the White HouseRelated source material

Dreams From My FatherRelated source material

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and InheritanceRelated source material

An American Story: The Speeches of Barack Obama : a PrimerRelated source material

A Promised LandRelated source material

Change We Can Believe InRelated source material

Yes, We CanRelated source material

The Inaugural Address, 2009: Together with Abraham Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses and The Gettysburg Address and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-RelianceRelated source material

Barack Obama & His Inspiring Speeches Vol 9Related source material

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