Barack Obama Quotes

Americans do not recognize the effect of American power in the world. … People all over the world ask, “Why can’t Americans see how American power affects us?”

The U.S. used to be perceived as the moral leader of the world, and we have absolutely lost that.

American leadership is essential.

Everywhere that I go in the world, people desperately look to American leadership in all of their world's most difficult problems. You can look at any region of the world and the United States is still the country to which those regions look for leadership.

The world is a better place when America is willing to lead.

The United States is a warning rather than an example to the world.

The 21st century is going to be the American century. Because we lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. That is the history of the journey of America.

We made America more respected around the world, took on the mantle of leadership in the fight to protect this planet for our kids, and much, much more.

My priority is to give the United States the kind of influence it should have.

There is a reason the world always looks to America.

Surveys show our standing around the world is higher than when I was elected to this office, and when it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead - they call us.

For me, America is really, truly the indispensable nation.

The U.S has acquired reservoirs of goodwill around the globe over many years. But it is clear - from polling data and ample anecdotal evidence - that America is losing its allure in much of the world.

It's also much clearer how much damage the occupation of Iraq is doing to America's reputation and prestige around the world; and that's just starting now to hit home in the United States.

The United States plays, for the most part, a constructive global role, and to the extent that that role shrinks, other countries, even those most critical of what America does abroad, will suffer.

In known history, nobody has had such capacity for altering the universe than the people of the United States of America. And nobody has gone about it in such an aggressive way.

The prestige of a nation is its reputation for power.

Culturally, America is the undisputed hegemonic power.

The United States need not worry about hearts and minds in foreign lands.

America must always lead on the world stage.

When the United States comes with resources and ideas, people pay attention.

There is no substitute - none - for American power.

We would like the rest of the world to look up to American democracy. So when there is this kind of folly taking place, it makes it difficult for other rational nations to look up to American democracy.

America being a force is a lot more than building up the Defense Department.

There is no substitute for American leadership and exceptionalism.