Consensus Quote by Barack Obama
“I think that to the extent that we focus on problems where we can build a moral and a political consensus, then I think that we move the country forward and when we are divided and our politics is focused on dividing, then I think we're less successful, not just from the perspective of the Democratic Party or the Republican Party but from the perspective of the nation as a whole.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Democratic National Convention, 2012
Focusing on shared problems and building consensus moves the nation forward, while division hampers progress.
In simple terms: Consensus on issues helps the country; division hinders it.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize common ground.
Themes
politics
unity
leadership
Mood
optimistic
serious
Type
political
motivational
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community organizing
- bipartisan legislation
- public discourse
Key Concepts
democracy
collaboration
Questions to Reflect On
- What issues can you unite around?
- How to bridge partisan gaps?
A Different Perspective
Consensus can be hard to achieve in polarized climates.
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
