Children Quote by Barack Obama
““It's not a question we ask ourselves enough, I think; as a country, we seem to be suffering from an empathy deficit. We wouldn't tolerate schools that don't teach, that are chronically underfunded and understaffed and underinspired, if we thought that the children in them were like our children. I believe a stronger sense of empathy would tilt the balance of our current politics in favor of those who are struggling. If we fail to help, we diminish ourselves.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Education and Empathy, United States, 2015
Empathy is lacking in society, leading to underfunded schools and neglect of vulnerable people; fostering empathy would improve political decisions and collective well‑being.
In simple terms: Lack of empathy harms society; more empathy would help.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate empathy in policy and daily life.
Themes
empathy
education
politics
social responsibility
Mood
concerned
hopeful
Type
political
social
When to use this quote
- school funding debates
- community volunteering
- legislative advocacy
- parent‑teacher meetings
Key Concepts
collective well‑being
public policy
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we measure empathy in policy?
- What steps can individuals take to increase empathy?
A Different Perspective
Empathy alone may not overcome entrenched economic interests.
![“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)
