Barack Obama Quotes

We want to bring back to Washington people who are more interested in public service than they are in private gain.

When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.

Those of us who get a chance, and many of us will, should and will be motivated to serve America well.

If they think its such a sacrifice to go into public service, then they should stay the heck out.

The trust that goes with public service is a heavy burden on those who would lead us.

Bring back that better era of the republic in which, when men consecrated themselves to the public service, they utterly abnegated all selfish purposes.

If you make the choice to serve the public, public service, then serve the public, not yourself.

You don't ever earn a right to stop doing anything if you feel there is an obligation to move in terms of public service.

I want to lead a government humble enough to know its place.

Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and trustees are created for the benefit of the public.

Those who are selected for a limited time to manage public affairs are still of the people, and may do much by their example to encourage, consistently with the dignity of their official functions, that plain way of life which among their fellow-citizens aids integrity and promotes thrift and prosperity.

Public officers are the trustees of the people.

If you accept the privilege of public service, you had better understand the responsibilities of public service.

No personal consideration should stand in the way of performing a public duty.

Join cooperatively with one another, put aside self-interest, and take on service to the public …

… a right-minded and true-hearted statesman who has had as much sovereign power placed in his hands as you have placed in mine should regard himself as the servant of the Senate; and often of the people as a whole; and sometimes of private citizens, too.

Pubic business must be done. It will be done one way or another. If wise men refuse it, others will not. If honest men refuse it, others will not.

Public Service was never meant to be an easy living.

It is the essence of responsibility to put the public good ahead of personal gain.

There are a lot of ways to serve and only one is being president.

The best citizens were supposed to desire honest men in office, men who would not take bribes, men who would appoint high-minded men as their subordinates, men who would look after the public interest, see that public charities were well supported.

When you are in politics, and you are a genuine person who genuinely cares, then everything comes second.

Self-preservation shouldn't be the first instinct in politics. It should be doing the right thing for the country.

We have the incredible privilege of serving in the highest offices in the state. We must prove ourselves worthy of our fellow citizens' faith. We must be trusted to always place the public's good above our own and to always choose fairness over favoritism.

My nomination to be Governor was not to gratify ambition.