President Barack Obama's charisma is infectious [1] and can't be denied by even his biggest political opponents. When he took the stage at the Democratic National Convention [2] in 2004 as an unknown candidate for senate, Obama's uncynical words and powerful delivery sparked a movement. "The audacity of hope," he said, was "God's greatest gift to us." Merely four years later he was elected president.
Whether off-the-cuff or with the collaboration from a speechwriter, Obama has consitently caught the world's attention with his words. We've collected some of his most inspirational quotes from throughout his presidency [3] and from the campaign trail.
On Leadership
- "The future rewards those who press on. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I'm going to press on." — speaking to the Congressional Black Caucus [4] in 2011
On Hope and Progress
- "If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." — during his campaign at a rally [5] in 2008
- "Don't shortchange the future because of fear in the present." — during a news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown [6] in 2009
- "No human being can truly be imprisoned if hope burns in your heart." — during a speech applauding Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi [7] in 2012
On the Government
- "What Washington needs is adult supervision." — at the White House Correspondents' Dinner [8] in 2015
- "If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists — to protect them and to promote their common welfare — all else is lost." — at the University of Nairobi [9] in 2006
On Diversity and Social Mobility
- "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America — there's the United States of America." — during his address at the Democratic National Convention [10] in 2004
- "We need to reject any politics that target people because of race or religion. This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith." — during his State of the Union Address [11] in 2016
- "Now, as a nation, we don't promise equal outcomes, but we were founded on the idea everybody should have an equal opportunity to succeed. No matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, you can make it. That's an essential promise of America. Where you start should not determine where you end up." — during the College Opportunity Summit [12] in 2014
And for laughs . . .
"Why can't I just eat my waffle?" — during his campaign [13] in 2008