Here is an ultimate collection of the 200+ best Michelle Obama quotes you need to know.
Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
Michelle Obama quotes about age
Here are a few quotes from Michelle Obama about our age.
“I believe that each of us-no matter what our age or background or walk of life-each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.” – Michelle Obama
“Today Jazz music is performed & listened to by people of all ethnicity, backgrounds, ages & creeds.” – Michelle Obama
“To me, with age, everything has gotten better. You have way more control; you know yourself better.” – Michelle Obama
“And in my own life, in my own small way, I’ve tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That’s why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us – no matter what our age or background or walk of life – each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about American dream
Here are a few quotes from Michelle Obama about American Dream.
“Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it…and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.” – Michelle Obama
“If proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.” – Michelle Obama
“If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire…if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores…if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote…if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time…if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream…and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love…then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about art
Here are a few quotes from Michelle Obama about learning different kinds of art.
“The arts and humanities define who we are as a people. That is their power — to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common. To help us understand our history and imagine our future. To give us hope in the moments of struggle and to bring us together when nothing else will.” – Michelle Obama
“Learning through the arts reinforces critical academic skills in reading, language arts and math, and provides students with the skills to creatively solve problems.” – Michelle Obama
“What I love about design is the artistic and scientific complexity that also becomes useful . . . Great designers also pursue a mission. Great designers design with mankind in mind . . . The crossroads of science and art, innovation and inspiration are what I love about design.” – Michelle Obama
“The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather, paintings and poetry, music and fashion, design and dialogue, they all define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.” – Michelle Obama
“The arts can enrich all of us in this nation as individuals. The arts can enrich all of our communities and the country. And the arts can connect us to each other like nothing else can.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about challenges
Here are a few quotes from Michelle Obama about facing and finishing challenges.
“Hope and change are hard-fought things.” – Michelle Obama
“Barack, like any leader, is human. And, you know, our challenges in this country isn’t finding the next person who’s gonna deliver us from our own evil. Because our challenges are us. The challenges that this country faces is how are we as individuals in this society gonna change? What are we gonna do differently?” – Michelle Obama
“African American children are significantly more likely to be obese than are white children. Nearly half of African American children will develop diabetes at some point in their lives. People, that’s half of our children. …We can build our kids the best schools on earth, but if they don’t have the basic nutrition they need to concentrate, they’re still going to have a challenge learning.” – Michelle Obama
“During the first campaign, one of my jobs as my husband’s spouse was to travel around the country and really listen to women. There were voices that were new to me: the voices of military spouses, many of them women, and veterans…. I was overwhelmed by their challenges, and the notion that we as a country don’t even know that these women exist, because we live in a country where one percent of the population protects the rights and freedoms of the other 99 percent of us. I thought that if I had the opportunity to serve as First Lady, I was going to use this platform to be their voice.” – Michelle Obama
“It’s all about, you know, continuing to get to know ourselves in a very diverse and complicated country that is America. It is a wonderful place to live. But because it is so diverse, our challenges are complex.” – Michelle Obama
“The president’s job is a lot harder. And that’s why I’m working hard to get him re-elected, because he’s handled himself with a level of grace and poise that not many people could given the challenges that he’s faced.” – Michelle Obama
“The issues facing working women and their families are closest to my heart. I decided to focus intently on the challenges military wives face because they juggle the same pressures as their nonmilitary peers, all while coping as single parents while their loved ones are overseas. I wanted to help make their voices heard.” – Michelle Obama
“For me, I look at the faces of my kids and I think about the future that is going to await them and whether they’re going to not just have the financial resources to be prepared for the challenge, but whether they’re going to have the strength and the stamina to live healthier, longer lives so that they can see their kids and grandkids. That’s the legacy I hope to see, and it can have nothing to do with me and I’d be perfectly happy.” – Michelle Obama
“Childhood obesity isn’t about looks. And it’s not about weight. It’s about how our kids feel. And those are really the implications of the problem and the words that tell a fuller picture of the challenges that we face; you know, kids struggling in ways that they didn’t a generation ago.” – Michelle Obama
“What I know for sure is that all the sacrifice and challenges we face are worth it if we’re creating a better future for our kids. I just think if the adults are always thinking about the world we want to leave for our kids, we’re going to make the right choices every single time.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about children
Here are some quotes from African-American author Michelle Obama about children.
“Cute’s good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, ‘Who are you as a person?’ Look at the heart. Look at the soul. Look at how the guy treats his mother and what he says about women. How he acts with children he doesn’t know. And, more important, how does he treat you?” – Michelle Obama
“Since we started Let’s Move! initiative, I’ve been looking for as many ways as possible to help families and kids lead healthier lives. And I’ve come to realize that if we were going to take just one step to make ourselves and our families healthier, probably the single best thing we could do is to simply drink more water. It’s as simple as that. Drink more water.” – Michelle Obama
“We all grew up in communities with grandmothers who cooked two, three vegetables that you had to eat. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it. But that’s because many of our grandparents, they had community gardens; there was the vegetable man that came around. There were many other resources that allowed them to have access. So it’s not that people don’t know or don’t want to do the right thing; they just have to have access to the foods that they know will make their families healthier.” – Michelle Obama
“In the 10 cities with the nation’s highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per 100,000 residents. And if these 10 cities just cut their obesity rates down to the national average, all added up they combine to save nearly $500 million in healthcare costs each year.” – Michelle Obama
“Slowly but surely, we’re beginning to turn the tide on childhood obesity in America. Together, we are inspiring leaders from every sector to take ownership of this issue.” – Michelle Obama
“Some kids have never seen what a real tomato looks like off the vine. They don’t know where a cucumber comes from. And that really affects the way they view food. So a garden helps them really get their hands dirty, literally, and understand the whole process of where their food comes from. And I wanted them to see just how challenging and rewarding it is to grow your own food, so that they would better understand what our farmers are doing every single day across this country and have an appreciation for … that American tradition of growing our own food and feeding ourselves.” – Michelle Obama
“Every day, through engagement in the arts, our children learn to open their imagination, to dream just a little bigger and to strive every day to reach those dreams.” – Michelle Obama
“An educational foundation is only part of the equation. In order for creativity to flourish and imagination to take hold, we also need to expose our children to the arts from a very young age.” – Michelle Obama
“It’s not about the government telling people what to do. It’s about each of us, in our own families, in our own communities, standing up and demanding more for our kids. And it’s about companies like Walmart answering that call.” – Michelle Obama
“I didn’t just start with …local city officials because I knew that they would understand the problem. I started with them because I knew that our cities, towns and counties would be a key part of the solution to this issue. …there is no one-size-fits all policy or program that can solve this problem. And Washington certainly does not have all the answers. Instead, many of the best, most innovative, most effective solutions start in our city halls and our towns and our county councils.” – Michelle Obama
“Parents have a right to expect that their efforts at home won’t be undone each day in the school cafeteria or in the vending machine in the hallway. …Parents have a right to expect that their kids will be served fresh, healthy food that meets high nutritional standards.” – Michelle Obama
“With this new initiative, Disney is doing what no major media company has ever done before in the United States. And what I hope every company will do going forward when it comes to the ads they show and the food they sell they’re asking themselves one simple question: Is this good for our kids?” – Michelle Obama
“Child hunger and child obesity are really just two sides of the same coin. Both rob our children of the energy, the strength and the stamina they need to succeed in school and in life. And that, in turn, robs our country of so much of their promise.” – Michelle Obama
“One of the things I want … all the kids here to remember, is that these [Major League Soccer] stars were not born superstar athletes … Many of them started out just like many of you-playing on a team at school, or just kicking a ball around on the playground with their friends. But they stuck with it. And I tell this to my girls all the time. I mean, you get to the point when … things you enjoy … start getting hard-that’s when you know you’re getting good, and you have to stick through it.” – Michelle Obama
“We are living in a time where we just don’t have enough time. People are rushed. They’re over worked, over scheduled. Not enough resources. …But the thing that I want people to understand in this campaign is that families can make small manageable changes in their lives that can have pretty significant impacts.” – Michelle Obama
“This year, 1.7 million young people will be participating in Olympic and Paralympic sports in their communities-many of them for the very first time. And that is so important, because sometimes all it takes is that first lesson, or clinic, or class to get a child excited about a new sport. This summer, together with our children, we can support Team USA not just by cheering them on, but by striving to live up to the example they set.” – Michelle Obama
“When the average child is now spending nearly eight hours a day in front of some kind of screen, many of their opinions and preferences are being shaped by the marketing campaigns you all create. And that’s where the problem comes in.. … And I’m here today with one simple request – and that is to do even more and move even faster to market responsibly to our kids.” – Michelle Obama
“While budgets are tight right now, there are schools across the country that are showing that it doesn’t take a whole lot of money or resources to give our kids the nutrition they deserve. What it does take, however, is effort. What it does take is imagination. What it does take is a commitment to our children’s futures.” – Michelle Obama
“We don’t need new discoveries or new inventions to reverse this trend. We have the tools at our disposal to reverse it. All we need is the motivation, the opportunity and the willpower to do what needs to be done. …With this report, we have a very solid road map that we need to make these goals real, to solve this problem within a generation.” – Michelle Obama
“See, that’s why Barack’s running: to end the war in Iraq responsibly – to build an economy that lifts every family, to make sure health care is available for every American – and to make sure that every child in this nation has a world-class education all the way from preschool to college.” – Michelle Obama
“I think any family would, any mother would their children.” – Michelle Obama
“Fortunately, we have help from the media. I have to say this: I’m very grateful for the support and kindness that we’ve gotten. People have respected their privacy and in that way, I think, you know, no matter what people may feel about my husband’s policies or what have you, they care about children and that’s been good to see.” – Michelle Obama
“For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks, and measurable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family, and one community at a time.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about choices
Here are some quotes from African-American author Michelle Obama about choices.
“My message to women: Do what makes you feel good, because there’ll always be someone who thinks you should do it differently. Whether your choices are hits or misses, at least they’re your own.” – Michelle Obama
“Even if we give parents all the information they need and we improve school meals and build brand new supermarkets on every corner, none of that matters if when families step into a restaurant, they can’t make a healthy choice.” – Michelle Obama
“I can make choices that make me happy, and it will ripple and benefit my kids, my husband, and my physical health. That’s hard for women to own; we’re not taught to do that.” – Michelle Obama
“I love french fries, I like a good burger, and I like pie. And that’s okay. I would be depressed if I felt I could never eat the things that I love. I also don’t want my girls to be obsessed about food. We don’t have a “no junk food” rule – I just want them to think about their choices.” – Michelle Obama
“All we can do as women is make the best decisions for us. And that includes everything from how you look to how you dress to whether you choose to stay at home or work when you have kids. All those decisions are so personal, and we have to start with finding what brings us joy and what brings us our own individual confidence. And if we’re feeling good with those choices, then it makes what everybody else has to say less important.” – Michelle Obama
“I am not asking anyone to take the fun out of childhood. As we all know, treats are one of the best parts of being a kid. Instead, the goal here is to empower parents instead of undermining them as they try to make healthier choices for their families.” – Michelle Obama
“Together, we can help make sure that every family that walks into a restaurant can make an easy, healthy choice.” – Michelle Obama
“You’ve got to make choices that make sense for you because there’s always going to be somebody who’ll think you should do something differently.” – Michelle Obama
“Throughout my life, I’ve learned to make choices that make me happy and make sense for me. Even my husband is happier when I’m happy.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about country
Here are some quotes from African-American author Michelle Obama about our country.
“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” – Michelle Obama
“I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as ‘us’ and ‘them’ – he doesn’t care whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above… he knows that we all love our country… and he’s always ready to listen to good ideas… he’s always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.” – Michelle Obama
“Investing in girls’ education is the very best thing we can do, not just for our daughters and granddaughters, but for their families, their communities, and their countries.” – Michelle Obama
“Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.” – Michelle Obama
“Every Thanksgiving, Barack sits down to call some of our troops and thank them for their service. When he tells me about these conversations, it always reminds me of how blessed we are to live in a country where men and women will stand up to protect our freedoms and preserve our way of life. And whenever I’ve had the chance to meet with these heroes and their families, I’ve always walked away inspired by their courage and in awe of their strength.” – Michelle Obama
“I mean, let’s take the average spouse. You know, you show up in an employer’s, you know, office, and it’s shown that you’ve changed jobs every two years. Well, to many employers that could be viewed as a red flag. But the truth is, is that you’ve made those moves because you’re serving your country, and each time you’ve found a career, and you’ve been able to provide for your family, and you’ve continued to volunteer, and on and on and on.” – Michelle Obama
“Countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices and opinions of all their citizens can be heard.” – Michelle Obama
“I want to send a very clear message to the men and women who are wearing – or who have worn – our country’s uniform and to their spouses: when you have finished your service to our nation, you’ve got 2,000 great American companies ready and waiting to bring you on board.” – Michelle Obama
“When women and girls rise, their communities and their countries rise with them.” – Michelle Obama
“I am so tired of fear. And I don’t want my girls to live in a country, in a world, based on fear.” – Michelle Obama
“Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” – Michelle Obama
“For me, as a mother, I am just, you know, I just can’t put into words how important it is for every American, for every mother, for every person in this country, to have healthcare.” – Michelle Obama
“I think that mentoring is such a critical part of the role I can play in my position. I see how little bits of exposure and big bits of exposure really change my girls significantly, and I want that for more girls around the country and the world.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about dreams
Here are some quotes from Michelle Obama about dreams.
“We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams, because in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children… These are the basic values that we all share, regardless of race, party, religion. This is what we share. These are the values that this bill embodies.” – Michelle Obama
“Millions of Americans who know that Barack understands their dreams; that Barack will fight for people like them; and that Barack will finally bring the change we need.” – Michelle Obama
“For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama Quotes about First Lady
Here are a few quotes from former US African-American first lady Michelle Obama.
“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” – Michelle Obama
“Although the circumstances of our lives may seem very disengaged, with me standing here as the First Lady of the United States of America and you just getting through school, I want you to know we have very much in common. For nothing in my life ever would have predicted that I would be standing here as the first African-American First Lady.” – Michelle Obama
“I talk about the food issue, I’m really coming at it from pre-White House times, when I was a working mother with a busy husband, a very demanding job and two little kids to feed…. I had to learn what it means to feed and care for your kids in a country where fast food is abundant, where time is a rarity, where eating out is a trend, because families are so busy…. Yes, I’m First Lady, but I know the struggles.” – Michelle Obama
“We have to design policies that have meaningful impacts on the quality of life of women and families. And that’s something that I know I can speak passionately about because whether I’m in the White House as First Lady, as long as I have kids and I’m trying to have a life, I’m gonna be trying to make this balance work…” – Michelle Obama
“I want to feel like the things I did made a difference. That’s one of the reasons I spend time greeting people on rope lines, because I’m always thinking, ‘Maybe this interaction, particularly if I’m meeting kids, will change someone’s life.’ That’s how I think about the work I do as First Lady. It’s a rare spotlight. I want to make sure I don’t waste it.” – Michelle Obama
“But, as potentially the first African American first lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations; conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others. Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating? Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not enough of a career woman?” – Michelle Obama
“My sense is that being a First Lady is a full-time job, but I’ll know more when the time comes.” – Michelle Obama
“People are always going to have opinions, and people have a right to their opinions, particularly when you’re the First Lady; you’re representing the nation. I’ve tried to be at peace with the choices that I make first, and then be open to everyone else’s reflection.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about goals
Here are a few quotes from Michelle Obama about setting our goals.
“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.” – Michelle Obama
“The president [Barack Obama] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years. And we announced during the tour last week that we have gotten more than 60,000 jobs, and we’re well on our way to just crashing that goal out of the water, because what businesses are understanding is that these men and women are some of the most highly trained resources that we have in this country.” – Michelle Obama
“For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks, and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family, and one community at a time.” – Michelle Obama
“My goal is to be a great-looking 70-year-old! I won’t mind being 70, but I want people to say, ‘You’re 70?’.” – Michelle Obama
“My goal has always been to add value, not to be redundant, not to get in the way, but to do things that lift and move things forward in a very strategic and objective way so that there are real outcomes.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama inspirational quotes
Here are a few inspirational quotes from Michelle Obama.
“Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down. And trust your instincts … good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don’t hurt. They’re not painful. That’s not just with somebody you want to marry, but it’s with the friends that you choose. It’s with the people you surround yourselves with.” – Michelle Obama
“There is no magic to achievement. It’s really about hard work, choices, and persistence.” – Michelle Obama
“We need to fix our souls. Our souls are broken in this nation. We have lost our way. And it begins with inspiration. It begins with leadership.
“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” – Michelle Obama
“Always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody says distract you from your goals.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about responsibility
Here are a few quotes from Michelle Obama about responsibility.
“We’ve got a responsibility to live up to the legacy of those who came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us.” – Michelle Obama
“Kids who participate in school meal programs get roughly half of their calories each day at school. … This is an extraordinary responsibility. But it’s also an opportunity. And it’s why one of the single most important things we can do to fight childhood obesity is to make those meals at school as healthy and nutritious as possible.” – Michelle Obama
“As a mom, I know it is my responsibility, and no one else’s, to raise my kids. But we have to ask ourselves, what does it mean when so many parents are finding their best efforts undermined by an avalanche of advertisements aimed at our kids.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about work life balance
Here are a few quotes from former US first lady Michelle Obama about career and life.
“We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” – Michelle Obama
“Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don’t have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” – Michelle Obama
“The work-life balance is a harsh reality for so many women, who are forced every day to make impossible choices. Do they take their kids to the doctor…and risk getting fired? Do they work weekends so they can afford to send their kids to better childcare…even though it means even less time with their families? Do they take another shift at work, so they can pay for piano lessons for their kids…even though it means they have to stop volunteering for the PTA? It just shouldn’t be this difficult to raise healthy families.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about hard work
Here are a few quotes from former US first lady Michelle Obama about hard work.
“The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them.” – Michelle Obama
“You work hard for what you want in life.” – Michelle Obama
“Let girls learn issue has always been personal for me. I grew up in a working-class neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago where most folks, including my parents, didn’t have college degrees. But with a lot of hard work – and a lot of financial aid – I had the chance to attend Princeton and Harvard Law School, and that gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions.” – Michelle Obama
“When you’re really trying to make serious change, you don’t want people to get caught up in emotion because change isn’t emotion. Because change isn’t emotion. Its real work and organization and strategy – that’s just the truth of it. I mean, you pull people in with inspiration, but then you have to roll up your sleeves and you’ve got to make sacrifices and you have got to have structure.” – Michelle Obama
“And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond; that you do what you say you’re going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about parents
Here are some quotes from former US first lady Michelle Obama about being a parent.
“To be a good parent, you need to take care of yourself so that you can have the physical and emotional energy to take care of your family.” – Michelle Obama
“Clearly this is a tough economic time, and a lot of families are hurting. So when we talk to parents, we talk about small changes for kids and things that don’t cost extra money. Like adding water and eliminating sugary drinks and sodas. That’s going to save money right there. Or adding a few more vegetables.” – Michelle Obama
“Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one.” – Michelle Obama
“I always encourage people to start in their own personal universe, because sometimes we as parents start thinking about the big picture. How do I change what’s happening in my entire school? And how do I do it in my community? And then you get overwhelmed and it’s just like, “Forget it, I’ll just stay here in my kitchen and wait.” But, start small.” – Michelle Obama
“Kids, everybody can get behind. It’s a bipartisan thing. We care about our kids’ health. But the truth is, it’s very important for us to talk to parents, in particular mothers, because it’s really our self-esteem, it’s our initiative.” – Michelle Obama
“We as parents are our children’s first and best role models, and this is particularly true when it comes to their health. …We can’t lie around on the couch eating French fries and candy bars and expect our kids to eat carrots and run around the block.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about nutrition
Here are a few quotes from African-American author Michelle Obama about health and nutrition.
“I look at how my kids view exercise. They have a complete understanding that nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. I didn’t think like that when I was a kid. But they have a real consciousness about it that I’d like to think comes from the years of attention we’ve put into this.” – Michelle Obama
“We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams, because in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children… These are the basic values that we all share, regardless of race, party, religion. This is what we share. These are the values that this bill embodies.” – Michelle Obama
“I’ve always tried to make sure that what I do really connects with the broader agenda of what my husband Barack Obama is trying to do…. But I also find that I have to be very passionate myself about the issue to be able to represent it well. One of the big issues that I’ve talked a lot about…is childhood health, nutrition and obesity.” – Michelle Obama
“While budgets are tight right now, there are schools across the country that are showing that it doesn’t take a whole lot of money or resources to give our kids the nutrition they deserve. What it does take, however, is effort. What it does take is imagination. What it does take is a commitment to our children’s futures.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about struggle
Here are some quotes from former US first lady Michelle Obama about struggles in life.
“I think the most moving part of my trip [to Africa] so far was seeing 92-year-old Nelson Mandela, and just thinking about his life. This man has lived through a struggle that few nations have known.” – Michelle Obama
“One thing I want to clarify – that every service member, veteran, wants us to remember – is that the vast majority of people returning from service come back completely healthy. But when we do come across someone who is struggling. We have to develop a culture of open arms and acceptance so that they feel comfortable saying, “I’m a veteran. And by the way, I need little help.” This is something we need to do in this country around mental health as a whole – destigmatizing mental health.” – Michelle Obama
“I talk about the food issue, I’m really coming at it from pre-White House times, when I was a working mother with a busy husband, a very demanding job and two little kids to feed…. I had to learn what it means to feed and care for your kids in a country where fast food is abundant, where time is a rarity, where eating out is a trend, because families are so busy…. Yes, I’m First Lady, but I know the struggles.” – Michelle Obama
“I know what it feels like to struggle to get the education that you need.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about school
I’ll share with you some quotes from African-American author Michelle Obama about education.
“We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean… and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.” – Michelle Obama
“It is my hope that our garden’s story-and the stories of gardens across America-will inspire families, schools, and communities to try their own hand at gardening and enjoy all the gifts of health, discovery, and connection a garden can bring.” – Michelle Obama
“One of the things I want … all the kids here to remember, is that these [Major League Soccer] stars were not born superstar athletes … Many of them started out just like many of you-playing on a team at school, or just kicking a ball around on the playground with their friends. But they stuck with it. And I tell this to my girls all the time. I mean, you get to the point when … things you enjoy … start getting hard-that’s when you know you’re getting good, and you have to stick through it.” – Michelle Obama
“Parents have a right to expect that their efforts at home won’t be undone each day in the school cafeteria or in the vending machine in the hallway. …Parents have a right to expect that their kids will be served fresh, healthy food that meets high nutritional standards.” – Michelle Obama
“Child hunger and child obesity are really just two sides of the same coin. Both rob our children of the energy, the strength and the stamina they need to succeed in school and in life. And that, in turn, robs our country of so much of their promise.” – Michelle Obama
“African American children are significantly more likely to be obese than are white children. Nearly half of African American children will develop diabetes at some point in their lives. People, that’s half of our children. …We can build our kids the best schools on earth, but if they don’t have the basic nutrition they need to concentrate, they’re still going to have a challenge learning.” – Michelle Obama
“Although the circumstances of our lives may seem very disengaged, with me standing here as the First Lady of the United States of America and you just getting through school, I want you to know we have very much in common. For nothing in my life ever would have predicted that I would be standing here as the first African-American First Lady.” – Michelle Obama
“Even if we give parents all the information they need and we improve school meals and build brand new supermarkets on every corner, none of that matters if when families step into a restaurant, they can’t make a healthy choice.” – Michelle Obama
“I had the honor of meeting a young Pakistani woman named Malala Yousafzai, who was shot and nearly killed just for trying to go to school. I also heard about how nearly 300 girls in Nigeria were kidnapped from their school dorms in the middle of the night. There are girls like this in every corner of the globe. In fact, there are more than 62 million girls worldwide not attending school, and that’s an outrage.” – Michelle Obama
“After I got out of law school and worked in a big law firm, I thought, there are so many kids like me, in my neighborhood, that could be here if they had more support from their families, better financial aid. But the gap is so wide once you miss that opportunity. So I was always interested in figuring out, How do you bridge that? I felt, as a lawyer, when I was mentoring and working with kids, that I gained a level of groundedness that I just couldn’t get sitting on the forty-seventh floor of a fancy firm.” – Michelle Obama
“Our kids didn’t do this to themselves. They don’t decide the sugar content in soda or the advertising content of a television show. Kids don’t choose what’s served to them for lunch at school, and shouldn’t be deciding what’s served to them for dinner at home. And they don’t decide whether there’s time in the day or room in the budget to learn about healthy eating or to spend time playing outside.” – Michelle Obama
“The biggest obstacle facing girls is education, education, education. There are too many kids who think high school is a pit stop to fame and fortune. I want girls in this country to think education is the coolest, most important thing they could ever do in their lives.” – Michelle Obama
“I always encourage people to start in their own personal universe, because sometimes we as parents start thinking about the big picture. How do I change what’s happening in my entire school? And how do I do it in my community? And then you get overwhelmed and it’s just like, “Forget it, I’ll just stay here in my kitchen and wait.” But, start small.” – Michelle Obama
“I was out there meeting with a lot of working moms and whenever I would gather a group of women, there was always a voice that was unfamiliar to me, and it was the voice of a military spouse, oftentimes a woman, oftentimes working, many times in a position where they’ve had to move every two or three years, where their kids have had to change school multiple times, people dealing – families dealing with multiple deployments, dealing with the stresses of reconnection.” – Michelle Obama
“We’ve gotten commitments from medical schools, from nursing schools, to step up and increase that pool of knowledgeable individuals.” – Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama quotes about compassion
Here are a few quotes from African-American author Michelle Obama about compassion.
“My mother’s love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in my daughters.” – Michelle Obama
“I want the young people to pay attention because, see, back when I first met Barack, we started dating, he had everything going for him. All right, ladies, listen to this. This is what I want you to be looking for. Yes, he was handsome-still is. I think so. He was charming, talented, and oh-so smart, truly. But that is not why I married him. Now, see, I want the fellas to pay attention to this. You all listening? What truly made me fall in love with Barack Obama was his character. You hear me? It was his character. It was his decency, his honesty, his compassion and conviction.” – Michelle Obama
“Barack Obama was always special, you know? And not special, like, He’s gonna be important, he’s gonna be president. He was special in terms of his honesty, his sincerity, his compassion for other people.” – Michelle Obama
FAQs | Motivational Michelle Obama Quotes
Here are some frequently asked questions about Michelle Obama quotes.
Who is Michelle Obama?
Michelle Obama is an American lawyer, writer, and former First Lady of the United States, serving from 2009 to 2017 as the wife of the 44th President, Barack Obama. She’s recognized for her advocacy work on various social issues, including education, health, and veterans’ affairs, and for her efforts to promote healthy living and empower young people.
What is Michelle Obama famous for?
Michelle Obama is famous for her role as the First Lady of the United States during her husband Barack Obama’s presidency from 2009 to 2017. She is known for her advocacy on important social issues such as education, health, and veterans’ affairs.
Additionally, Michelle Obama has made significant contributions to promoting healthy living and empowering young people through initiatives like the Let’s Move! campaign and the Reach Higher initiative.
Her memoir, “Becoming,” has also been widely acclaimed and became a bestseller.
What was a famous Michelle Obama quote?
One of Michelle Obama’s famous quotes is:
“When they go low, we go high.”
This statement became emblematic of her approach to handling political opposition and adversity, emphasizing the importance of rising above negativity and maintaining integrity.
What is Michelle Obama’s slogan?
Michelle Obama’s slogan, particularly during her time as First Lady, was “Let’s Move!”
This slogan was associated with her initiative aimed at combating childhood obesity and promoting healthier lifestyles among children in the United States.
What are 3 fun facts about Michelle Obama?
Here are 3 fun facts about Michelle Obama:
1. Michelle Obama is an accomplished pianist. She began playing the piano at a young age and continued to practice throughout her life, even performing at various events during her time as First Lady.
2. Before meeting Barack Obama, Michelle Robinson (her maiden name) was his mentor at the law firm Sidley Austin. She was assigned to be his advisor when he was a summer associate at the firm, and their relationship eventually blossomed into a romantic one.
3. Michelle Obama is a huge advocate for gardening and healthy eating. She started the White House Kitchen Garden, the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden during World War II. This initiative aimed to promote healthier eating habits and educate children about where their food comes from.
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Final thoughts on Michelle Obama quotes
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