--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And so you [young Americans]need to be…" description: "\"And so you [young Americans]need to be the Idea Generation. The generation who's always thinking on the cutting edge, who's wondering how to create and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg" --- # And so you \[young Americans\]need to be the Idea… ![“And so you [young Americans]need to be the Idea Generation. The generation who's always thinking on the cutting edge, who's wondering how to create and keep the next wave of American jobs and American innovations, who's figuring out how to out-compete the Idea Generations of Indias and Chinas of…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg) > “And so you \[young Americans\]need to be the Idea Generation. The generation who's always thinking on the cutting edge, who's wondering how to create and keep the next wave of American jobs and American innovations, who's figuring out how to out-compete the Idea Generations of Indias and Chinas of the world.” [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. Young Americans must lead in creating and sustaining future jobs and innovations, outpacing global competitors. **In simple terms:** Youth should drive future innovation. Key Takeaway Invest in creative education and entrepreneurship. Themes innovation economy leadership Mood visionary urgent Type inspirational policy When to use this quote - education policy - startup ecosystems - career planning Key Concepts creative economy global competition Questions to Reflect On - How can we democratize innovation? - What barriers do young creators face? A Different Perspective Resources may be uneven, limiting participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-thinking/) [American jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-jobs/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Cutting edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting-edge/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Young americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-americans/) ## Related quotes > [“Is it any wonder that the cultural archetype of my generation is the Nerd, whose apps and gadgets symbolize the hope of economic growth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/is-it-any-wonder-that-the-cultural-archetype-of-my-generation-is-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [My mom and my dad are still together, but so many of my friends who got married just a few years ago aren't. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodrigo-santoro/my-mom-and-my-dad-are-still-together-but-so-many-of-my-friends-who/) [Rodrigo Santoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodrigo-santoro/) > [“The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hammerbacher/the-best-minds-of-my-generation-are-thinking-about-how-to-make-people/) Jeff Hammerbacher > [If we want America to stay on the cutting edge, we need young Americans to master the tools and technology that will change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-we-want-america-to-stay-on-the-cutting-edge-we-need-young/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the great things about being commander in chief is getting to know our men and women in uniform in a very intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-commander-in-chief-is-getting-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think what you have to realise is that our generation is the first generation since its sexual awakening has come into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-molko/i-think-what-you-have-to-realise-is-that-our-generation-is-the-first/) [Brian Molko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-molko/) > [But probably that's the way of the world - when we have finally learned something we're too old to apply it - and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/but-probably-that-s-the-way-of-the-world-when-we-have-finally-learned/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [Welcome to my generation, we call it-generation hell-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattias-konradsson/welcome-to-my-generation-we-call-it-generation-hell/) [Mattias Konradsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattias-konradsson/) > [This generation, our generation of people who benefited, must always be the pioneers who look to younger people and say mediocrity is not accommodated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-manuel/this-generation-our-generation-of-people-who-benefited-must-always-be/) Trevor Manuel > [I do not think that there is any time in our history when things were perfect. I do not expect such times in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-think-that-there-is-any-time-in-our-history-when-things-were/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Generation after generation, there is this never-ending, contemptuous, condescending attitude to the next generation or the next way of thinking: music, art, politics, whatever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/generation-after-generation-there-is-this-never-ending-contemptuous/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) > [The only generation that can reach this generation is our generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-j-smith/the-only-generation-that-can-reach-this-generation-is-our-generation/) [Oswald J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-j-smith/) > [Generation after generation can't just be loaded with more and more nuclear weapons and not ultimately dance to that music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/generation-after-generation-can-t-just-be-loaded-with-more-and-more/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“From generation to generation, America should never be the same country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/from-generation-to-generation-america-should-never-be-the-same-country/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Generation Y are everything you feared. They’re everything your worst nightmares conjured up. They’re lazy, apathetic, unoriginal, scared of innovation, scared of difference, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarra-manning/generation-y-are-everything-you-feared-they-re-everything-your-worst/) [Sarra Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarra-manning/) ## 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 Always thinking quotes > [You're always thinking, "What does that add up to?" You can't really get a handle on it. I was curious. I felt like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/you-re-always-thinking-what-does-that-add-up-to-you-can-t-really-get/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And I am always thinking, what is the next project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-am-not-a-finisher-i-am-a-starter-and-i-am-always-thinking-what-is/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I think it's important to know what you're going to do with the ball before it comes to you. So you're always thinking before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-van-der-vaart/i-think-it-s-important-to-know-what-you-re-going-to-do-with-the-ball/) [Rafael van der Vaart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-van-der-vaart/) > [People who are always thinking of the feelings of others can be very destructive because they are hiding so much from themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/people-who-are-always-thinking-of-the-feelings-of-others-can-be-very/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I am always thinking 'What am I doing here? Is this the way I am supposed to feel?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-am-always-thinking-what-am-i-doing-here-is-this-the-way-i-am/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm always thinking about that young girl or young boy who doesn't quite know if their music, their messaging, their imaging, their voice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-m-always-thinking-about-that-young-girl-or-young-boy-who-doesn-t/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [We're trying, despite having done research and having obviously preconceived ideas, we try our best to be as open-hearted as possible, and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/we-re-trying-despite-having-done-research-and-having-obviously/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [I'm always thinking of ideas and sounds. I am waiting on something new and dope to inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/i-m-always-thinking-of-ideas-and-sounds-i-am-waiting-on-something-new/) [Kid Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [I want to feel like the things I did made a difference. That's one of the reasons I spend time greeting people on rope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-want-to-feel-like-the-things-i-did-made-a-difference-that-s-one-of/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Successful people are always thinking about what they can do to move to the next level. Initiative is the drive to do it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/successful-people-are-always-thinking-about-what-they-can-do-to-move/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [Meditation is one of the rare occasions when we're not doing anything. Otherwise, we're always doing something, we're always thinking something, we're always occupied.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/meditation-is-one-of-the-rare-occasions-when-we-re-not-doing-anything/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [The only reason why we are always thinking of our own ego is that we have to live with it more continuously than with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/the-only-reason-why-we-are-always-thinking-of-our-own-ego-is-that-we/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I'm not a nosy person, but I'm always thinking 'I wonder why he did that? I wonder why this week he was this much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-douglas/i-m-not-a-nosy-person-but-i-m-always-thinking-i-wonder-why-he-did/) [Jill Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-douglas/) > [Fiction writing is a twenty-four-hou r-a-day occupation. You never leave your work behind. It is always with you, and to some extent, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/fiction-writing-is-a-twenty-four-hou-r-a-day-occupation-you-never/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [I tend to write about love because I'm always thinking about it. I think a lot though and struggle with overanalyzing. Way over. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/i-tend-to-write-about-love-because-i-m-always-thinking-about-it-i/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) [Browse all 94 Always thinking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-thinking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And so you [young Americans]need to be the Idea Generation. The generation who's always thinking on the cutting edge, who's wondering how to create and keep the next wave of American jobs and American innovations, who's figuring out how to out-compete the Idea Generations of Indias and Chinas of the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-the-idea-generation-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always thinking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-the-idea-generation-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/barack-obama-17_always-thinking_and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-th_813000.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And so you [young Americans]need to be the Idea Generation. The generation who's always thinking on the…” — 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": "And so you [young Americans]need to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-the-idea-generation-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/and-so-you-young-americans-need-to-be-the-idea-generation-the/#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 } } ] } ```