Michelle Obama Quotes & Sayings

When I was little, I wanted to be a mother, because that's who I saw. I saw my mom caring for me. I didn't play doctor. I didn't play lawyer. I didn't have those visions until I was in college, meeting people who were doing those things. That's why we're trying to encourage moms, teachers, fathers, to be that presence in their children's lives, in their communities, because it really makes a difference. — Michelle Obama

'Let's Move!' is not about having government tell people what to do, because government doesn't have all the answers. — Michelle Obama

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

Studying in countries like China isn't only about your prospects in the global marketplace. It's not just about whether you can compete with your peers in other countries to make America stronger. It's also about whether you can come together and work together with them to make our world stronger. It's about the friendships you make, the bonds of trust you establish and the image of America that you project to the rest of the world. — Michelle Obama

If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you 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

My happiness isn't connected to my husband's or my boss's or my children's behavior. You have control over your own actions, your own well-being. — Michelle Obama

I want a president who will teach our children that everyone in this country matters, a president who truly believes in the vision that our Founders put forth all those years ago that we are all created equal, each a beloved part of the great American story. — Michelle Obama

Barack knows that we are going to have to make sacrifices; we are going to have to change our conversation; we're going to have to change our traditions, our history; we're going to have to move into a different place as a nation. — 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

You can be a good mom and still work out, get your rest, have a career - or not. My mother encouraged me to find that balance. — Michelle Obama

What I tell my kids is, 'I'm preparing you for college and for life. So, having independence, knowing how to set your own boundaries, figuring out how to make that balance. We still have screen-time rules.' — Michelle Obama

My kids are normal. If they could eat burgers and fries and ice cream every day, they would. And so would I. But that doesn't sustain us. — Michelle Obama

Walk away from 'friendships' that make you feel small and insecure, and seek out people who inspire you and support you — Michelle Obama

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

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

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

There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made. — Michelle Obama

I have never been proud of America my entire adult life. — 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

And that's my message to voters, this isn't about Barack, it's not about person on that ballot
its about you. And for most of the people we are talking to [blacks], a Democratic ticket is the clear ticket that we should be voting on, regardless of who said what or did this
that shouldn't even come into the equation. — Michelle Obama

As women, we must stand up for ourselves. We must stand up for each other. We must stand up for justice for all. — 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. — 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

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

We learned about honesty and integrity - that the truth matters ... that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules ... and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square. — Michelle Obama

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

For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction. — Michelle Obama

Childhood obesity isn't some simple, discrete issue. There's no one cause we can pinpoint. There's no one program we can fund to make it go away. Rather, it's an issue that touches on every aspect of how we live and how we work. — Michelle Obama

I never thought I'd be on Sesame Street with Elmo and Big Bird. I'm still thrilled. I'm on a high. — Michelle Obama

When I was younger, I could eat whatever I wanted, as long as I exercised; or if I didn't exercise and just watched what I ate, I'd maintain. Now I have to do both. — Michelle Obama

Today Jazz music is performed & listened to by people of all ethnicity, backgrounds, ages & creeds. — Michelle Obama

What I love about design is the artistic and scientific complexity that also becomes useful ... — Michelle Obama

A lot of young people think they're invincible, but the truth is young people are knuckleheads. Now young people can get insurance for as little as $50 a month, less than the cost of gym shoes. — Michelle Obama

It's hard to make speeches with your hair in your face! — Michelle Obama

You see, even though back then Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door. He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small. — 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

We can make a commitment to promote vegetables and fruits and whole grains on every part of every menu. We can make portion sizes smaller and emphasize quality over quantity. And we can help create a culture - imagine this - where our kids ask for healthy options instead of resisting them. — 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

I mean, hope doesn't get actualized in three and a half years. If that were the case, we'd be out of luck as a country. — Michelle Obama

People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together. — Michelle Obama

And I come here as a daughter, raised on the South Side of Chicago - by a father who was a blue-collar city worker and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me. — Michelle Obama

Find people who will make you better. — Michelle Obama

Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys ... Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house ... and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both. — Michelle Obama

Childhood obesity issue is critically important to me because it's critically important to the health and success of our kids, and of this nation, ultimately. — 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

When you walk through that door of opportunity you don't slam it shut behind you, — Michelle Obama

We learned about dignity and decency - that how hard you work matters more than how much you make ... that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself. — Michelle Obama

I know what makes me happy. I pick the clothes that make me happy - sometimes people like them, sometimes they don't. I try to listen to my own internal guide. — Michelle Obama

I try to tell young people to get in shape now, because it's easier. If you're 30 and want to drop 10 pounds, all you have to do is just walk. — Michelle Obama

I'm varying my workouts so it's not just cardio but also includes moves to maintain my flexibility. — Michelle Obama

This is really what the White House is all about. It's the "People's House." It's a place that is steeped in history, but it's also a place where everyone should feel welcome. And that's why my husband and I have made it our mission to open up the house to as many people as we can. — 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 love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard - especially when it's hard. — Michelle Obama

He's always asking: 'Is that new? I haven't seen that before.' It's like, Why don't you mind your own business? Solve world hunger. Get out of my closet. — 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

Sometimes, it's just easier to say yes to that extra snack or dessert, because frankly, it is exhausting to keep saying no. It's exhausting to plead with our kids to eat just one more bite of vegetables. — Michelle Obama

Happiness for me is when my kids are good and when my family is whole. — Michelle Obama

Earlier in my college career, there was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the Black community I was somehow obligated to this community and would utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit this community first and foremost. — Michelle Obama

The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more. — 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

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

Do not die in the history of your past hurts and past experiences, but live in the now and future of your destiny. — Michelle Obama

When they go low, we go high. — Michelle Obama

I'm a fry lover. — 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

You can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. — Michelle Obama

To me, with age, everything has gotten better. You have way more control; you know yourself better. — Michelle Obama

My most important title is still "mom-in-chief." My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. — Michelle Obama

Barack Obama was a black man that lived on the South Side of Chicago, who had his share of troubles catching cabs. — Michelle Obama

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

In fact, in the last job I had before coming to the White House - I remember this clearly - I was on maternity leave with Sasha, still trying to figure out what to do with my life, and I got a call for an interview for this position, a senior position at the hospitals. And I thought, okay, here we go. So I had to scramble to look for babysitting, and couldn't find one. — 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

You've got to keep your body active, even if that means just turning on some music and dancing for an hour ... That's how you;ll prepare your bodies and your minds for greatness. — 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

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

Every day, the people I meet inspire me ... every day, they make me proud ... every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth. — 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

I admit it: I am louder than the average human being and have no fear of speaking my mind. These traits don't come from the color of my skin but from an unwavering belief in my own intelligence. — 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

The problem is when that fun stuff becomes the habit. And I think that's what's happened in our culture. Fast food has become the everyday meal. — Michelle Obama

Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own. — Michelle Obama

I don't, as my mom would say, sweat the small stuff in our relationship. Because when I think of day-to-day irritations that you might have with the one you love, they're nothing compared to the bigger task at hand. — Michelle Obama

My first job in all honesty is going to continue to be mom-in-chief. Making sure that in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls ... that they are settled and that they know they will continue to be the center of our universe. — Michelle Obama

Exercise is really important to me - it's therapeutic. So if I'm ever feeling tense or stressed or like I'm about to have a meltdown, I'll put on my iPod and head to the gym or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls. — 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 measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family, and one community at a time, — Michelle Obama

I've seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are. — 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

With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents are their most important role models. — 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

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

Choose people who lift you up. — Michelle Obama

I have had to learn that my voice has value. And if I don't use it, what's the point of being in the room? — Michelle Obama

How hard you work matters more than how much you make. — Michelle Obama

Don't let anyone speak for you, and don't rely on others to fight for you. — Michelle Obama

Believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage. — Michelle Obama

We have to make sure that our kids still feel good about themselves no matter what their weight, no matter how they feel. We need to make sure that our kids know that we love them no matter who they are, what they look like, what they're eating. — Michelle Obama

I'm not a big fan of young kids having Facebook. It's not something they need. It's not necessary. — Michelle Obama

It's always positive to hear how many people are willing to step up - whether it is the employment community, mental health community, or medical community. — Michelle Obama