20 of President Obama's most inspirational quotes

Photo Credit: CNBC

August 4, 1961, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. After serving as a senator for Illinois, he was elected 44th President of the United States and served from 2009 to 2017. Obama was the first African American elected President of the United States in history. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts during the first year of his presidency.

From his rendition of Jingle Bells to the infamous 'Obama out', there's a reason he was often referred to as the "coolest President". Not only was he fly in a tan suit, could belt out a lil Al Green, or boo loving on our Forever First Lady, Barry is also one of the greatest presidential orators in modern history. His knack for public speaking can be summed up in some of his most inspirational quotes. Check them out below.

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Photo Credit: Free Press Journal

1. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” – Barack Obama

2. “The thing about Hip-Hop today is it’s smart, it’s insightful. The way they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable.” – Barack Obama

3. Be conscious of God and speak always the truth. – Barack Obama

4. “Americans still believe in an America where anything’s possible – they just don’t think their leaders do.” – Barack Obama

5. “You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you." – Barack Obama

6. “Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us.” – Barack Obama

Photo Credit: USA Today

Related: 30 Soul-stirring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes

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

8. "Nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change." – Barack Obama

Photo Credit: The Washington Post

9. "The change we seek will take longer than one term or one presidency. Real change—big change—takes many years and requires each generation to embrace the obligations and opportunities that come with the title of Citizen." – Barack Obama

10. “You can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time.” – Barack Obama

11. 'While we breathe, we will hope." – Barack Obama

12. "The worst thing that colonialism did was to cloud our view of our past." – Barack Obama

Photo Credit: New Yorker

Related: 15 Black Lives Matter and Racial Justice Quotes to Inspire You to Join the Revolution

13. "True democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us. It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, and any one government. It’s a job for all of us.” – Barack Obama

14. "Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up." – Barack Obama

15. "Each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own version of happiness." – Barack Obama

16. "Let me tell your something. I'm from Chicago. I don't break." – Barack Obama

17. "Words do inspire." – Barack Obama

Photo Credit: The Hill

18. "You have the ability and gifts to do whatever you want". It is your turn now to change the world. Yes we can!" – Barack Obama

19. “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.” – Barack Obama

20. "Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. And it will leave you unfulfilled." – Barack Obama

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