--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the free enterprise system…" description: "\"I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known. I believe in self-reliance and individual initia..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/barack-obama-17_believe_i-believe-that-the-free-enterprise-syste_506934.jpg" --- # I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest… ![“I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known. I believe in self-reliance and individual initiative and risk-takers being rewarded. But I also believe that everybody should have a fair shot and everybody should do their fair share and…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/barack-obama-17_believe_i-believe-that-the-free-enterprise-syste_506934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/barack-obama-17_believe_i-believe-that-the-free-enterprise-syste_506934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1a/barack-obama-17_believe_i-believe-that-the-free-enterprise-syste_506934.jpg) > “I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known. I believe in self-reliance and individual initiative and risk-takers being rewarded. But I also believe that everybody should have a fair shot and everybody should do their fair share and everybody should play by the same rules, because that's how our economy's grown. That's how we built the world's greatest middle class.” [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. The quote argues that free enterprise drives prosperity, rewarding initiative while requiring fairness and shared responsibility to sustain a strong middle class. **In simple terms:** Free markets create wealth, but fairness and rules are essential. Key Takeaway Balance risk‑taking with equitable opportunity. Themes economy fairness individualism middle class rules Mood optimistic determined reflective Type political economic inspirational When to use this quote - Policy debates - business startups - education funding - tax reform - social welfare programs Key Concepts Capitalism social contract risk reward economic mobility Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equal opportunity in a market economy? - What rules best balance risk and fairness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on market forces can ignore structural inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe In Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-self/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Engine Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engine-prosperity-2534462/) [Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Fair share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-share/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Free enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-enterprise/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Prosperity World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity-world-748459/) [Reliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reliance/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self reliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-reliance/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-believe-that-the-free-enterprise-system-is-the-greatest-engine-of-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I believe that science is the engine of prosperity, that if you look around at the wealth of civilization today, it's the wealth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-believe-that-science-is-the-engine-of-prosperity-that-if-you-look/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Science is definitely part of America's infrastructure, the engine of prosperity. And yet science is given almost no visibility in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/science-is-definitely-part-of-america-s-infrastructure-the-engine-of/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don't take too much advice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-porter/rely-on-your-own-strength-of-body-and-soul-take-for-your-star-self/) [Noah Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-porter/) > [We've taken the view that if the rest of the world would democratize and create market economies, that would spread the benefits of prosperity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sachs/we-ve-taken-the-view-that-if-the-rest-of-the-world-would-democratize/) [Jeffrey Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-sachs/) > [The prosperity of this world is dependent on your own individual actions - however small they may seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsepiso-makhubedu/the-prosperity-of-this-world-is-dependent-on-your-own-individual/) [Tsepiso Makhubedu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsepiso-makhubedu/) > [There is no way to turn off this global economy, nor should one try. Every previous expansion of global capitalism has led to greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/there-is-no-way-to-turn-off-this-global-economy-nor-should-one-try/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [Development and prosperity of the world cannot happen without the simultaneous development of India and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/development-and-prosperity-of-the-world-cannot-happen-without-the/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [I think that the best hope for peace and prosperity in the world is greater cooperation among nations, which in turn will be produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-think-that-the-best-hope-for-peace-and-prosperity-in-the-world-is/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I would not trade the difficult years for all the prosperity in the world. God knows what each one of us must suffer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/i-would-not-trade-the-difficult-years-for-all-the-prosperity-in-the/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The United States is a giant island of freedom, achievement, wealth and prosperity in a world hostile to our values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/the-united-states-is-a-giant-island-of-freedom-achievement-wealth-and/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [“Wealth does not just appear; it is drawn to those who cultivate a mindset of abundance. When your thoughts are aligned with prosperity, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linsey-mills/wealth-does-not-just-appear-it-is-drawn-to-those-who-cultivate-a/) [Linsey Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linsey-mills/) > [I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-believe-that-this-country-succeeds-when-everyone-gets-a-fair-shot/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We need to change our tax code so that people like me & an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-need-to-change-our-tax-code-so-that-people-like-me-an-awful-lot-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“But the habit of framing issues in terms of Asian and Western values did distort Singapore's view of its own challenges. Policy-makers looking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherian-george/but-the-habit-of-framing-issues-in-terms-of-asian-and-western-values/) [Cherian George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherian-george/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known. I believe in self-reliance and individual initiative and risk-takers being rewarded. But I also believe that everybody should have a fair shot and everybody should do their fair share and everybody should play by the same rules, because that's how our economy's grown. 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