--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America's not just [about] looking out…" description: "\"America's not just [about] looking out for yourself, it's not just about greed, it's not just about trying to climb to the very top and keep everybody ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg" --- # America's not just \[about\] looking out for yourself, it's… ![“America's not just [about] looking out for yourself, it's not just about greed, it's not just about trying to climb to the very top and keep everybody else down. ... Hard work, that's a value. Looking out for one another, that's a value. The idea that we're all in it together and [that] I'm my…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg) > “America's not just \[about\] looking out for yourself, it's not just about greed, it's not just about trying to climb to the very top and keep everybody else down. ... Hard work, that's a value. Looking out for one another, that's a value. The idea that we're all in it together and \[that\] I'm my brother's keeper and \[my\] sister's keeper, that's a value.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes communal responsibility, hard work, and mutual support over selfish ambition. **In simple terms:** Community and hard work matter more than greed. Key Takeaway Prioritize helping others and working hard. Themes community hard work mutual support ethics leadership Mood inspirational hopeful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - team projects - neighborhood initiatives - workplace collaboration - family caregiving Key Concepts collective responsibility social cohesion moral values Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal goals with community duties? - What obstacles prevent you from helping others? A Different Perspective May overlook individual ambition and personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brother Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother-keeper-991742/) [Brother's Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-keeper/) [Climbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbs/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Keepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keepers/) [Look at yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-at-yourself/) [Looking Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-value-3533452/) [My brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-brother/) [My sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-sister/) [My sister 's keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-sister-s-keeper/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) [Value Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-idea-925789/) [Value Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-looking-3868806/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [It is that fundamental belief, it is that fundamental belief, I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-is-that-fundamental-belief-it-is-that-fundamental-belief-i-am-my/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [In too many communities, too many young men of color are left behind and seen only as objects of fear. Through initiatives like My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-too-many-communities-too-many-young-men-of-color-are-left-behind/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-government-should-work-for-us-not-against-us-it-should-help-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There is always a chance that he who sets himself up as his brother's keeper will end up by being his jail-keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-is-always-a-chance-that-he-who-sets-himself-up-as-his-brother-s/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [ American life is builded ... upon that fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior nineteen centuries ago ... \[It\] can not survive with the defense… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/american-life-is-builded-upon-that-fundamental-philosophy-announced/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [I can't think of anyone I've mistreated. I've always thought that I am my brother's keeper. And I believe there's a 'great spirit' that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-can-t-think-of-anyone-i-ve-mistreated-i-ve-always-thought-that-i-am/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/yes-i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-i-am-under-a-moral-obligation-to-him/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [I believe that we're only as strong as our neighbor is, and the idea that, I'm my brother's keeper works for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/i-believe-that-we-re-only-as-strong-as-our-neighbor-is-and-the-idea/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Being your brother's keeper means helping him, not preventing his goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/being-your-brother-s-keeper-means-helping-him-not-preventing-his-goals/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [Although I may not be my brother's keeper, I am my brother's brother, and 'because I have been given much, I too must give.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/although-i-may-not-be-my-brother-s-keeper-i-am-my-brother-s-brother/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [There is a growing threat to the environment, to the vegetation, animals, water and air. Sacred Scripture hands us the image of Cain who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/there-is-a-growing-threat-to-the-environment-to-the-vegetation/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [A quiz: If I am my brother's keeper, who am I? (Answer: me.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/a-quiz-if-i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-who-am-i-answer-me/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > ["Am I my brother's keeper?" There you have the whole Biblical understanding that you are your brother's keeper. You also have a whole other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/am-i-my-brother-s-keeper-there-you-have-the-whole-biblical/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“I rolled my eyes at the newcomer. "Hello, Carter." I'd known the angel was lurking in the kitchen, just as Peter had felt me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-rolled-my-eyes-at-the-newcomer-hello-carter-i-d-known-the-angel-was/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I AM my Brother's Keeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-am-my-brother-s-keeper/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America's not just [about] looking out for yourself, it's not just about greed, it's not just about trying to climb to the very top and keep everybody else down. ... Hard work, that's a value. Looking out for one another, that's a value. The idea that we're all in it together and [that] I'm my brother's keeper and [my] sister's keeper, that's a value.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for-yourself-it-s-not-just-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for-yourself-it-s-not-just-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/696/barack-obama-17_america_america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for_1240132.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America's not just [about] looking out for yourself, it's not just about greed, it's not just about trying…” — Barack Obama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America's not just [about] looking out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for-yourself-it-s-not-just-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for-yourself-it-s-not-just-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```