--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But we reject the belief that America…" description: "\"But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg" --- # But we reject the belief that America must choose between… ![“But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg) > “But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.” [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 can support both past contributors and future builders simultaneously. **In simple terms:** Support both generations. Key Takeaway Invest in all generations. Themes intergenerational equity social responsibility policy Mood hopeful serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - education funding - infrastructure projects - healthcare reform - retirement benefits Key Concepts social contract economic investment Questions to Reflect On - How can policies honor past and future? - What trade‑offs are acceptable? A Different Perspective Balancing budgets is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Pro life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Give me your four year olds, and in a generation I will build a socialist state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/give-me-your-four-year-olds-and-in-a-generation-i-will-build-a/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Ensuring a healthy future means investing in the generation who will carry that future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-fletcher/ensuring-a-healthy-future-means-investing-in-the-generation-who-will/) [Mal Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-fletcher/) > [If Madison Avenue advertising executives were to pick a song that would best represent America, the last one they would choose is 'The Star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-kessler/if-madison-avenue-advertising-executives-were-to-pick-a-song-that/) [Ronald Kessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-kessler/) > [Every year, thousands of immigrants, asylum seekers and migrants assume great hardships to find safety in America. They choose our country because they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/every-year-thousands-of-immigrants-asylum-seekers-and-migrants-assume/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [The time has come to make the difficult decision. Charity begins at home. We can no longer afford to rebuild Afghanistan and America. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/the-time-has-come-to-make-the-difficult-decision-charity-begins-at/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [It is in our vital national interest to ensure that when nations have a choice between China or America, they choose 'America First.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/it-is-in-our-vital-national-interest-to-ensure-that-when-nations-have/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes; tolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/not-out-of-mere-charity-but-because-peace-in-our-time-requires-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-do-not-believe-that-in-this-country-freedom-is-reserved-for-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [... our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom. And we must be a source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-interests-and-our-conscience-compel-us-to-act-on-behalf-of-those/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We the people declare today that the most evident of truth that all of us are created equal ... that our individual freedom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-declare-today-that-the-most-evident-of-truth-that-all/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [For we have always understood that when times change, so must we, that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/for-we-have-always-understood-that-when-times-change-so-must-we-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [That is our generation's task, to make these works, these rights, these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-our-generation-s-task-to-make-these-works-these-rights-these/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today we continue a never ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/today-we-continue-a-never-ending-journey-to-bridge-the-meaning-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-understand-that-our-country-cannot-succeed-when-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-still-believe-that-our-obligations-as-americans-are-not-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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": "But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-must-choose-between-caring-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-must-choose-between-caring-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/barack-obama-17_america_but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-mu_3109047.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country…” — 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": "But we reject the belief that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-must-choose-between-caring-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-we-reject-the-belief-that-america-must-choose-between-caring-for/#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 } } ] } ```