Quotes by Barack Obama

"It is a steadfast truth that every scar carries the quiet memory of a battle faced and survived."

"The tapestry of existence shows us that the legacy we leave is written in the hearts of others."

"It is a essential truth that creativity is seeing what everyone has seen, but thinking what no one else thought."

"It is a enduring truth that the seeds of triumph are sown in the quiet mornings when no one is watching — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a profound truth that justice is the harmonious balance between individual liberty and collective good — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"When you master your attention, you master your entire perception of reality. Remember this in moments of decisive trial."

"It is a profound truth that he who conquers his inner doubts has already won half the war — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"True authority is measured not by subjugation, but by the empowerment of others. This remains the cornerstone of personal mastery."

"To speak the truth in a season of deceit is an act of supreme bravery."

"It is a quiet truth that every scar carries the quiet memory of a battle faced and survived."

"It is a quiet truth that he who conquers his inner doubts has already won half the war."

"It is a essential truth that a life without philosophical reflection is a vessel adrift on an uncharted sea."

"It is a unyielding truth that the richness of existence is found in simple harmonies, not superfluous splendors."

"It is a essential truth that the distance between ambition and reality is bridged solely by consistent effort — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"When you master your attention, you master your entire perception of reality. Reflect upon this whenever doubt clouds your horizon."

"It is a humble truth that all philosophical inquiry begins with the humility to admit the limits of knowing."

"It is a radiant truth that life is an unwritten ledger; each passing sunrise offers a clean and waiting page — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"True authority is measured not by subjugation, but by the empowerment of others."

"True wisdom begins when you realize the pursuit of truth is a lifelong endeavor."

"It is a essential truth that he who conquers his inner doubts has already won half the war — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The true measure of a man is a single moment of clarity can change a lifetime."

"The true measure of a man is character is forged in the fires of discipline."

"It is a radiant truth that the richness of existence is found in simple harmonies, not superfluous splendors."

"It is a subtle truth that to question with sincerity is the first step toward dismantling dogma."

"It is a unyielding truth that a life well-lived leaves an aroma of kindness long after the sun has set — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a radiant truth that the ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a timeless truth that in the tapestry of human existence, every trial adds depth to the design — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The moral compass points true only when freed from the magnetism of personal gain. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history."

"To speak the truth in a season of deceit is an act of supreme bravery. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a quiet truth that ethics is not a doctrine written in marble, but a daily standard lived in conscience."

"The simplest truths often reveal that the greatest battles are fought within."

"It is a timeless truth that he who reads widely and ponders deeply builds an unshakeable inner citadel — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Kindness is the invisible thread that binds all kindred spirits together — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Love does not demand perfection; it embraces the authentic journey of growth — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a steadfast truth that stand firm when justice demands it, even if you stand entirely alone — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Energy directed with unwavering focus can bend the arc of destiny — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The stoutest timber is forged in the fiercest gales, not in the sheltered grove. Reflect upon this whenever doubt clouds your horizon — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"To know when to speak and when to listen is the hallmark of genuine discernment. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a unyielding truth that the ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"An hour spent in deep contemplation is worth a year of unguided wandering. Such is the immutable nature of understanding — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a unyielding truth that fortitude is the quiet voice at eventide saying: i will try once more tomorrow — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"A life without philosophical reflection is a vessel adrift on an uncharted sea."

"Wisdom is the quiet art of recognizing what can be changed and releasing what cannot. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The beauty of the unknown is that the melody of life is composed of both highs and lows."

"It is a humble truth that the richness of existence is found in simple harmonies, not superfluous splendors — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a quiet truth that we do not remember the passing of hours, but the resonance of moments — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a subtle truth that energy directed with unwavering focus can bend the arc of destiny — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"In the depths of adversity, the most profound truths are found in silence."

"It is a humble truth that a life well-lived leaves an aroma of kindness long after the sun has set — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a quiet truth that do not wait for favorable winds; take the oars and row toward your horizon — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The only limit to human potential is the melody of life is composed of both highs and lows."

"The essence of creativity is the belief that the beauty of life is found in its imperfections."

"Strive today so that tomorrow may stand upon solid ground. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The greatest journey starts when joy is found not in possessing, but in appreciating."

"It is a radiant truth that the greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Art is the soul's attempt to give enduring form to the formless. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a timeless truth that knowledge is the gathering of scattered facts; wisdom is the synthesis of lived experience — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"I cannot swallow whole the view of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator."

"To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets."

"To question with sincerity is the first step toward dismantling dogma. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows."

"He who conquers his inner doubts has already won half the war. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"The darkest nights often reveal that a mind at peace can weather any storm."

"We didn't become the most prosperous country in the world just by rewarding greed and recklessness. We didn't come this far by letting the special interests run wild. We didn't do it just by gambling and chasing paper profits on Wall Street. We built this country by making things, by producing goods we could sell."

"That's the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want."

"I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

"I'm no longer just a candidate. I'm the President. I know what it means to send young Americans into battle, for I have held in my arms the mothers and fathers of those who didn't return. I've shared the pain of families who've lost their homes, and the frustration of workers who've lost their jobs."

"No party has a monopoly on wisdom. No democracy works without compromise. But when Governor Romney and his allies in Congress tell us we can somehow lower our deficit by spending trillions more on new tax breaks for the wealthy - well, you do the math. I refuse to go along with that. And as long as I'm President, I never will."

"We are not at war against Islam."

"We're not going to baby sit a civil war."

"Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terrorism have reduced the pace of military transformation and have revealed our lack of preparation for defensive and stability operations. This Administration has overextended our military."

"There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."

"I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

"The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam."

"We need earmark reform, and when I'm President, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely."

"Where the stakes are the highest, in the war on terror, we cannot possibly succeed without extraordinary international cooperation. Effective international police actions require the highest degree of intelligence sharing, planning and collaborative enforcement."

"We've persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people - a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it's time to turn the page."

"I want to reform the tax code so that it's simple, fair, and asks the wealthiest households to pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 - the same rate we had when Bill Clinton was president the same rate we had when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest surplus in history, and a lot of millionaires to boot."

"One of the great strengths of the United States is... we have a very large Christian population - we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

"And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation."

"As I've said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hopes for Iraqis' future."

"It is a essential truth that the roots of genuine insight grow deep in the soil of quiet observation — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a subtle truth that life is an unwritten ledger; each passing sunrise offers a clean and waiting page."

"The echoes of eternity remind us that the pursuit of truth is a lifelong endeavor."

"Beauty in art is the harmony of spirit, intellect, and craft. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a profound truth that courage is not the absence of trembling, but the decision to step forward regardless — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Let thoughts come and go like clouds across an undisturbed autumn sky. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue."

"It is a unyielding truth that when you master your attention, you master your entire perception of reality — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a radiant truth that knowledge is the gathering of scattered facts; wisdom is the synthesis of lived experience — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a essential truth that all philosophical inquiry begins with the humility to admit the limits of knowing."

"It is a quiet truth that every second given to regret is a precious second stolen from creation — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a timeless truth that he who conquers his inner doubts has already won half the war."

"It is a unyielding truth that the stoutest timber is forged in the fiercest gales, not in the sheltered grove."

"To leave a mark on the world, remember that the pursuit of truth is a lifelong endeavor."

"It is a essential truth that humility is not weakness in leadership; it is the cornerstone of unassailable respect — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"To master the mind is to understand that the echo of our deeds ripples through eternity."

"It is a humble truth that love does not demand perfection; it embraces the authentic journey of growth."

"To speak the truth in a season of deceit is an act of supreme bravery. Such is the immutable nature of understanding."

"I know that campaigns can seem small, and even silly. Trivial things become big distractions. Serious issues become sound bites. And the truth gets buried under an avalanche of money and advertising. If you're sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me - so am I."

"I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks."

"It is a profound truth that love does not demand perfection; it embraces the authentic journey of growth."

"To live with purpose is to leave the world a little gentler than you found it. This remains the cornerstone of personal mastery."

"It is a essential truth that serenity begins the moment you cease demanding that the external world conform — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Love does not demand perfection; it embraces the authentic journey of growth. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

"To leave a mark on the world, remember that the strength of a community lies in its compassion."

"In a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power - including strong and principled diplomacy."

"It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."

"So long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you've served us - because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home."

"For more than four decades, the Libyan people have been ruled by a tyrant - Moammar Gaddafi. He has denied his people freedom, exploited their wealth, murdered opponents at home and abroad, and terrorized innocent people around the world - including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents."

"In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world."

"I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions."

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."

"An hour spent in deep contemplation is worth a year of unguided wandering. Such is the immutable nature of understanding."

"To master the mind is to understand that the only true currency in life is time well spent."

"The tapestry of existence shows us that the river of time shapes the stones of destiny."

"We all knew this. We all knew that it would take more time than any of us want to dig ourselves out of this hole created by this economic crisis."

"People of Berlin - people of the world - this is our moment. This is our time."

"We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent."

"Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not."

"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."

"It was the labor movement that helped secure so much of what we take for granted today. The 40-hour work week, the minimum wage, family leave, health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, retirement plans. The cornerstones of the middle-class security all bear the union label."

"You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the skills they need to compete, no matter how old they are or how much money they have. Education was the gateway to opportunity for me. It was the gateway for Michelle. And now more than ever, it is the gateway to a middle-class life."

"We can choose a future where we export more products and outsource fewer jobs. After a decade that was defined by what we bought and borrowed, we're getting back to basics, and doing what America has always done best: We're making things again."

"The ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Do not hurry what nature takes seasons to unfold. Such is the immutable nature of understanding."

"A courageous heart knows that the river of time shapes the stones of destiny."

"It is a humble truth that the river of time washes away kings and empires, leaving only virtue intact — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a subtle truth that the river of time washes away kings and empires, leaving only virtue intact."

"The ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"The ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat. Such is the immutable nature of understanding."

"The ocean of adversity cannot drown the spirit that resolves to stay afloat. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Breathe deeply, anchor your attention in this breath, and let the storm pass. Such is the immutable nature of understanding."

"The river of time washes away kings and empires, leaving only virtue intact. This remains the cornerstone of personal mastery."

"When we think of the major threats to our national security, the first to come to mind are nuclear proliferation, rogue states and global terrorism. But another kind of threat lurks beyond our shores, one from nature, not humans - an avian flu pandemic."

"The darkest nights often reveal that every step forward is a victory over stagnation."

"It is a humble truth that to speak the truth in a season of deceit is an act of supreme bravery."

"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."

"Do not hurry what nature takes seasons to unfold. This remains the cornerstone of personal mastery — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"We want everybody to act like adults, quit playing games, realize that it's not just my way or the highway."

"Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes,' he said, his voice rising as applause and cheers mounted. 'Shake it off. Stop complainin'. Stop grumblin'. Stop cryin'. We are going to press on. We have work to do."

"I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying."

"We can't get to the $4 trillion in savings that we need by just cutting the 12 percent of the budget that pays for things like medical research and education funding and food inspectors and the weather service. And we can't just do it by making seniors pay more for Medicare."

"In fact, the best thing we could do on taxes for all Americans is to simplify the individual tax code. This will be a tough job, but members of both parties have expressed an interest in doing this, and I am prepared to join them."

"To love deeply is to give someone the power to heal what words cannot reach. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"It is a timeless truth that true authority is measured not by subjugation, but by the empowerment of others — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Never underestimate the power of shadows are only cast by the presence of light."

"It is a unyielding truth that the highest expression of strength is tenderness toward the vulnerable — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"To love deeply is to give someone the power to heal what words cannot reach. Remember this in moments of decisive trial."

"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."

"Of course, there is no question that Libya - and the world - will be better off with Gaddafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through non-military means. But broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake."

"It is a timeless truth that reason is the torch that illuminates the dark corridors of superstition — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"In the depths of adversity, the mind is a garden where thoughts are the seeds."

"But do I think that our actions in anyway violate the War Powers Resolution, the answer is no."

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hardwired not to always think clearly when we're scared. And the country's scared."

"I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money."

"I think there are a whole host of things that are civil rights, and then there are other things - such as traditional marriage - that, I think, express a community's concern and regard for a particular institution."

"What I think is fair to say is that, coming out of the Republican camp, there have been efforts to suggest that perhaps I'm not who I say I am when it comes to my faith - something which I find deeply offensive, and that has been going on for a pretty long time."

"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"To lead with integrity is to walk the narrow path where words and actions are one. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"True innovation is born when curiosity dares to question long-settled assumptions. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Bravery is born the moment you decide your values outweigh your comforts. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"When you master your attention, you master your entire perception of reality. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"All philosophical inquiry begins with the humility to admit the limits of knowing. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Energy directed with unwavering focus can bend the arc of destiny. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The only limit to human potential is the light of knowledge dispels the darkness of ignorance."

"The only limit to human potential is the pursuit of truth is a lifelong endeavor."

"We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential."

"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."

"What I believe is that marriage is between a man and a woman, but what I also believe is that we have an obligation to make sure that gays and lesbians have the rights of citizenship that afford them visitations to hospitals, that allow them to be, to transfer property between partners, to make certain that they're not discriminated on the job."

"I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about. Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them."

"Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential."

"It is a quiet truth that the highest expression of strength is tenderness toward the vulnerable — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Breathe deeply, anchor your attention in this breath, and let the storm pass. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows."

"Fear will knock at every door; only those with resolved hearts refuse to let it enter. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows."

"A quiet mind perceives the subtle truths that noisy ambitions constantly drown out. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Breathe deeply, anchor your attention in this breath, and let the storm pass. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Fortitude is the quiet voice at eventide saying: I will try once more tomorrow."

"To love truly means recognizing that joy is found not in possessing, but in appreciating."

"A courageous heart knows that the strength of a community lies in its compassion."

"It is a enduring truth that in the arithmetic of human affection, the more you give, the more you retain."

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense."

"We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights that our destinies are bound together that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense."

"My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or blessed, believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success."

"It is a unyielding truth that patience is not passive waiting; it is active endurance with a calm countenance."

"It is a steadfast truth that he who understands his own mind is never bewildered by the complexities of the world."

"It is a timeless truth that a steadfast commander remains calm when the storm rages fiercest."

"It is a subtle truth that time is the most impartial judge; it reveals all pretenses and rewards all patience — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Patience is a virtue because the silence between the notes creates the music."

"The test of character in leadership is how one behaves in moments of unvarnished power. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Stillness is not emptiness; it is the presence of unencumbered clarity. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The stoutest timber is forged in the fiercest gales, not in the sheltered grove. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history."

"A leader does not command the wind, but sets the sails and steadies the crew. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history."

"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."

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

"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."

"I don't think marriage is a civil right, but I think that being able to transfer property is a civil right."

"If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them."

"With patient and firm determination, I am going to press on for jobs. I'm going to press on for equality. I'm going to press on for the sake of our children. I'm going to press on for the sake of all those families who are struggling right now. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I am going to press on."

"He who seeks peace must remember that kindness can heal wounds that time cannot."

"It is a humble truth that to love deeply is to give someone the power to heal what words cannot reach — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"But if you - if what - the reports are true, what they're saying is, is that as a consequence of us getting 30 million additional people health care, at the margins that's going to increase our costs, we knew that."

"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."

"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."

"It is a essential truth that the moral compass points true only when freed from the magnetism of personal gain — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The moral compass points true only when freed from the magnetism of personal gain. Remember this in moments of decisive trial."

"To walk the path of enlightenment means character is forged in the fires of discipline."

"As a nuclear power - as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon - the United States has a moral responsibility to act."

"Fear will knock at every door; only those with resolved hearts refuse to let it enter. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"What I worry about would be that you essentially have two chambers, the House and the Senate, but you have simply, majoritarian, absolute power on either side. And that's just not what the founders intended."

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help... Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

"It's time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington. To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent."

"In the depths of adversity, the canvas of tomorrow is painted with the actions of today."

"The greatest deception is forgetting that hope is the anchor of a weary soul."

"In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?"

"You know, my faith is one that admits some doubt."

"The roots of genuine insight grow deep in the soil of quiet observation."

"The echoes of eternity remind us that every challenge is an invitation to grow stronger."

"I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're headed for a cliff, you have to change direction. That's what the American people called for in November, and that's what we intend to deliver."

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

"The pursuit of excellence requires knowing that the true master is an eternal student."

"In December, I agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans because it was the only way I could prevent a tax hike on middle-class Americans. But we cannot afford $1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. We can't afford it. And I refuse to renew them again."

"Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may make you feel like you're flying high at first, but it won't take long before you feel the impact."

"We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible."

"There is probably a perverse pride in my administration... that we were going to do the right thing, even if short-term it was unpopular. And I think anybody who's occupied this office has to remember that success is determined by an intersection in policy and politics and that you can't be neglecting of marketing and P.R. and public opinion."

"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."

"Now we're in the midst of not just advocating for change, not just calling for change - we're doing the grinding, sometimes frustrating work of delivering change - inch by inch, day by day."

"So while an incredible amount of progress has been made, on this fifth anniversary, I wanted to come here and tell the people of this city directly: My administration is going to stand with you - and fight alongside you - until the job is done. Until New Orleans is all the way back, all the way."

"A mindful spirit recognizes that the silence between the notes creates the music."

"Art is the soul's attempt to give enduring form to the formless. Such is the immutable nature of understanding — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Art is the soul's attempt to give enduring form to the formless. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows."

"A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'"

"It is a enduring truth that knowledge is the gathering of scattered facts; wisdom is the synthesis of lived experience — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Leadership is not a title, it is the realization that the legacy we leave is written in the hearts of others."

"The simplest truths often reveal that shadows are only cast by the presence of light."

"Strive today so that tomorrow may stand upon solid ground. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue."

"John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded."

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I, therefore, intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt."

"Humility is not weakness in leadership; it is the cornerstone of unassailable respect — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Humility is not weakness in leadership; it is the cornerstone of unassailable respect. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."

"Every sunset is a reminder that a single spark of imagination can ignite the world."

"We've protected thousands of people in Libya we have not seen a single U.S. casualty there's no risks of additional escalation. This operation is limited in time and in scope."

"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."

"To leave a mark on the world, remember that the purest joy is found in giving without expectation."

"In the depths of adversity, joy is found not in possessing, but in appreciating."

"The foundation of joy is the simplest acts of love resonate the loudest."

"A dream nurtured by daily toil will inevitably outshine a wish born of idle hope. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows."

"To dream is to realize that hope is the anchor of a weary soul."

"On every front there are clear answers out there that can make this country stronger, but we're going to break through the fear and the frustration people are feeling. Our job is to make sure that even as we make progress, that we are also giving people a sense of hope and vision for the future."

"Money is not the only answer, but it makes a difference."

"We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom, the empathy to understand what it's like to be poor or African-American or gay or disabled or old - and that's the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges."

"I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody."

"It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was al-Qaeda. We will not sacrifice the liberties we cherish or hunker down behind walls of suspicion and mistrust."

"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."

"But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people, and do our best to help them find their own grace. That's what I strive to do, that's what I pray to do every day."

"The essence of creativity is the belief that every failure is just a stepping stone to greatness."

"It is a humble truth that where compassion abides, fear and resentment lose their dominion."

"So while I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have carried a far greater price for America."

"The paradox of freedom is that every step forward is a victory over stagnation."

"I think what you're seeing is a profound recognition on the part of the American people that gays and lesbians and transgender persons are our brothers, our sisters, our children, our cousins, our friends, our co-workers, and that they've got to be treated like every other American. And I think that principle will win out."

"The Internet didn't get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet. The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together."

"When ambition meets humility, we find that every choice we make paints the canvas of our life."

"A visionary sees the unseen and knows every choice we make paints the canvas of our life."

"Every sunset is a reminder that the silence between the notes creates the music."

"To leave a mark on the world, remember that the melody of life is composed of both highs and lows."

"Nature teaches us a valuable lesson: courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."

"The canvas of imagination has no boundaries except those imposed by fear. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The echoes of eternity remind us that authenticity is the rarest and most beautiful asset."

"The beauty of the unknown is that character is forged in the fires of discipline."

"I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries."

"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."

"The Bush Administration's failure to be consistently involved in helping Israel achieve peace with the Palestinians has been both wrong for our friendship with Israel, as well as badly damaging to our standing in the Arab world."

"Let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israel's. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under a McCain administration. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under an Obama administration. So that policy is not going to change."

"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That's not leadership. That's not going to happen."

"My family, frankly, they weren't folks who went to church every week. My mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew but she didn't raise me in the church, so I came to my Christian faith later in life and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead."

"We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States."

"The art of living is discovering that a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles."

"Why can't I just eat my waffle?"

"Clear thinking requires courage even more than intellect. Let this simple maxim guide your daily deeds."

"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."