Barack Obama Quotes

I'll always push for what I believe in. That's what you're supposed to do. If you're an American, you're supposed to be part of the political process, especially if you've been denied it.

I'm a citizen in a democracy. To call me an activist would be redundant. It's not a spectator sport. If we all become non-participants, it no longer works.

I want to continue to speak out on issues that matter to me. I want to have even more of a voice.

The unique thing about our country is that we don't get behind politicians, politicians get behind us.

Policy makers do the right thing only if the public makes as much noise as possible.

I'm a person who's always been politically active and passionate about people's rights.

Protecting space for civil society and citizenry is particularly critical in a world marked by rising political and economic inequality.

I'm a big fan of the vigor of civil society, political engagement, and public life in many parts of Latin America.

I think there's going to be a lot of Americans who are really willing to be much more active than they were before, because they're worried about where Trump is headed.

Marriage equality is a very middle-class issue and voting rights is a very working-class issue. If you do not vote, who are you speaking for? Who will be the next Fannie Lou Hamer? If not you or someone you know, then who?

This is essential that we have a resurgence in democratic participation. And I don't mean big-D Democrat, I mean small-D democrat. I mean getting involved in your neighborhood, your community. This is no time to say, "I'm not into politics." This is a time to go headlong into the welfare of this nation.

I think it's very important for everyone in America to realize right now the state of our country, not just on this issue but on a lot of issues, that it is time to get active again. People have just sat back and just sort of said, oh, let somebody else do it for a long time, and we're seeing what's happening to the country, even freedom of speech. It's not going well. So I think this is a real opportunity for people to see, yes, if you do get out and you do get active, there are other people there. You just have to seek them out.

As far as my work for causes or social issues, that's something I'm doing as a private citizen.

The movers and shakers on our planet, aren't the billionaires and generals, they are the incredible numbers of people around the world filled with love for neighbor and for the earth who are resisting, remaking, restoring, renewing and revitalising.

I ran because I became convinced after King was shot and killed, and Martin Luther King was one of the great heroes of my life, that politics is not perfect but it's the best available nonviolent means of changing how we live. If we don't like how we live, we can participate in the perfect most revolutionary act in a democracy, it's called voting.

Democracy is not what we hate the most and what we fear the most. We need to stand up.

You can't afford to hate politics. The politics of this country is democracy. Democracy is by the people, of the people and for the people. The day people stop taking active part in the politics of this country, democracy will not survive.

The struggle for democracy has to be maintained on as many fronts as culture has aspects: political, economic, international, educational, scientific and artistic, religious.

It never hurts to be involved in any political or activist organization. I can never see how participation would be a bad thing. The key is being true to what you participate with and who.

Let's not give the electoral process so much importance. We have to be cynical about it. Let's give importance to the real democracy that's constructed on a day-to-day basis. That's my hopeful perspective on it.

Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.

Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.

If the people of America do not rise up, take ownership of our country, we're going to lose it forever.

In order for critical pedagogy, dialogue, and thought to have real effects, they must advocate the message that all citizens, old and young, are equally entitled, if not equally empowered, to shape the society in which they live.

When we talk about fighting for our country, we're talking about our vote, our vote is our arms.