--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As citizens, we understand that America…" description: "\"As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. Its about what can be done by us, together.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/barack-obama-17_learning_as-citizens-we-understand-that-america-i_1705531.jpg" --- # As citizens, we understand that America is not about what… ![“As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. Its about what can be done by us, together.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/barack-obama-17_learning_as-citizens-we-understand-that-america-i_1705531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/barack-obama-17_learning_as-citizens-we-understand-that-america-i_1705531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/barack-obama-17_learning_as-citizens-we-understand-that-america-i_1705531.jpg) > “As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. Its about what can be done by us, together.” [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. America thrives when citizens act collectively rather than expecting government to solve everything alone. **In simple terms:** People must work together for national progress. Key Takeaway Engage in community action. Themes civic engagement collective action national identity Mood hopeful inspirational Type political motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - local elections - community projects Key Concepts Democracy social responsibility grassroots movement Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to foster collaboration? - How does shared purpose strengthen society? A Different Perspective Collective effort can be hindered by apathy or division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-understand-311540/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Understand America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-america-494359/) ## Related quotes > [As citizens, we understand that it is not about what America may do for us. It's about what can be done by us, together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-citizens-we-understand-that-it-is-not-about-what-america-may-do/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think that many citizens understand how our system works, or rather, fails to work, for structural reasons. But who has the capacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/i-think-that-many-citizens-understand-how-our-system-works-or-rather/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [The extremely low respect Congress enjoys among the population indicates that the citizens understand broadly what's going on. But the lack of a realistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-extremely-low-respect-congress-enjoys-among-the-population/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [It's important that our children are raised to be educated, well-rounded tax-paying citizens that understand the importance of technology and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/it-s-important-that-our-children-are-raised-to-be-educated-well/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [Effective resistance to usurpers is possible only provided the citizens understand their rights and are disposed to defend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/effective-resistance-to-usurpers-is-possible-only-provided-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [For a fledging democratic system to succeed, we need citizens who understand the procedures, believe in democratic rules and get personally involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-naumann/for-a-fledging-democratic-system-to-succeed-we-need-citizens-who/) [Friedrich Naumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-naumann/) > [Drafts of domestic legislation must be published, debated and publicly voted on, which gives ample opportunities to civil society organizations and ordinary citizens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/drafts-of-domestic-legislation-must-be-published-debated-and-publicly/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [America is providing the kind of leadership that the world respects and the world has come to understand; that is what America stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/america-is-providing-the-kind-of-leadership-that-the-world-respects/) [Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/) > [What people don't understand is this is something that we only have in America. There is no other country in the world where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/what-people-don-t-understand-is-this-is-something-that-we-only-have/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [Traveling in Europe made me understand that America has an island mentality: No one exists except us. There's a whole other world out there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/traveling-in-europe-made-me-understand-that-america-has-an-island/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country. Happy Independence Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/patriotism-is-easy-to-understand-in-america-it-means-looking-out-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrorists do not understand America. The American people do not falter under threat, and we will not allow our future to be determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-terrorists-do-not-understand-america-the-american-people-do-not/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Without wilderness, we will eventually lose the capacity to understand America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-broome/without-wilderness-we-will-eventually-lose-the-capacity-to-understand/) [Harvey Broome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-broome/) > [“What my yia yia could never understand about America was why everyone pretended to be happy all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/what-my-yia-yia-could-never-understand-about-america-was-why-everyone/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [There is a common British delusion that we 'understand' America. We don't. Watching 'Friends' listening to Bruce Springsteen, eating at McDonald's and visiting Disneyland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/there-is-a-common-british-delusion-that-we-understand-america-we-don/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) ## 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": "As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. 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