In recent years, we've become enamored with our own past success. Lulled into complacency by the glitter of our own achievements. We've become accustomed to the title of Military Superpower, forgetting the qualities that got us there. We've become accustomed to our economic dominance in the world, forgetting that it wasn't reckless deals and get rich quick schemes that got us where we are, but hard work and smart ideas, quality products and wise investments.

—Barack Obama

About Barack Obama

Portrait of Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American retired politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American to serve as president. Obama represented Illinois in the United States...

More quotations from Barack Obama

The elevation of appearance over substance, of celebrity over character, of short term gains over lasting achievement displays a poverty of ambition. It distracts you from what's truly important.

—Barack Obama

In this new, hyper competitive age, none of us, none of us can afford to be complacent.

—Barack Obama

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation./ Yes we can./ It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights./ Yes we can./ It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness./ Yes we can./

—Barack Obama

I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you. I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

—Barack Obama

If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.

—Barack Obama

More quotations tagged with “America”

I know starting careers in troubled times is a challenge, but it is also a privilege. Because it's moments like these that force us to try harder, dig deeper and to discover gifts we never knew we had. To find the greatness that lies within each of us. So don't ever shy away from that endeavor. Don't stop adding to your body of work. I can promise that you will be the better for that continued effort as will be this nation that we all love.

—Barack Obama

America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.

—Barack Obama

America's greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is our belief in second chances, our belief that we can always start over, that things can be made better.

—Anthony Walton

There is a New America every morning when we wake up. It is upon us whether we will it or not.

—Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.

In America any boy may become President and I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes.

—Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.

History

11 Jul 2015 Added