--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hoped for something else. It's a simple…" description: "\"I hoped for something else. It's a simple dream, but it speaks to us so powerfully because it is our dream - one that exists at the very center of the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/barack-obama-17_chance_i-hoped-for-something-else-it-s-a-simple_2761171.jpg" --- # I hoped for something else. It's a simple dream, but it… ![“I hoped for something else. It's a simple dream, but it speaks to us so powerfully because it is our dream - one that exists at the very center of the American experience. One that says if you're willing to work hard and take responsibility, then you'll have the chance to reach for something else…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/barack-obama-17_chance_i-hoped-for-something-else-it-s-a-simple_2761171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/barack-obama-17_chance_i-hoped-for-something-else-it-s-a-simple_2761171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/barack-obama-17_chance_i-hoped-for-something-else-it-s-a-simple_2761171.jpg) > “I hoped for something else. It's a simple dream, but it speaks to us so powerfully because it is our dream - one that exists at the very center of the American experience. One that says if you're willing to work hard and take responsibility, then you'll have the chance to reach for something else; for something better.” [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 American dream centers on hard work, responsibility, and the chance to improve one’s life. **In simple terms:** Hard work and responsibility unlock opportunity. Key Takeaway Embrace effort and accountability. Themes dream hard work responsibility opportunity Mood hopeful inspirational Type political motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - education pursuit - community projects - personal goal setting Key Concepts socio‑economic mobility American identity self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you accept for your growth? - How can you help expand opportunity for others? A Different Perspective Systemic barriers can limit access to opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Our dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-dreams/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Simple dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-dreams/) [Something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-better/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [She'd rather hoped for something simple, like a lined piece of notebook paper with MY EVIL PLAN written across the top, but no luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/she-d-rather-hoped-for-something-simple-like-a-lined-piece-of/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/all-your-dreams-can-come-true-if-you-have-the-courage-to-pursue-them/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [That is the true genius of America-a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-the-true-genius-of-america-a-faith-in-simple-dreams-an/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-the-true-genius-of-america-a-faith-in-the-simple-dreams-of-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-the-true-genius-of-america-a-faith-in-the-simple-dreams-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The idea here is simple, if you can dream it, it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-lorenzo/the-idea-here-is-simple-if-you-can-dream-it-it-is-possible/) Jorge Lorenzo > [A man with a dream. A very simple dream, mostly involving nachos and beer, but a dream nonetheless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-mackenzie/a-man-with-a-dream-a-very-simple-dream-mostly-involving-nachos-and/) Marc MacKenzie > [“a simple dream, set in a city park, along an avenue of mature elms, whose overarching branches turned the avenue into a green tunnel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/a-simple-dream-set-in-a-city-park-along-an-avenue-of-mature-elms/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I am proof that the American dream still exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-deen/i-am-proof-that-the-american-dream-still-exists/) [Paula Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-deen/) > [“It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-true-that-which-i-have-revealed-to-you-there-is-no-god-no/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I am living proof that the American dream still exists. It is still alive and well. There is only one trick, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-deen/i-am-living-proof-that-the-american-dream-still-exists-it-is-still/) [Paula Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-deen/) > [A dream that exists only in your mind is not useless. Use it to create the reality you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-dream-that-exists-only-in-your-mind-is-not-useless-use-it-to-create/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Israel is a fulfilled dream. Nothing that exists here existed here a hundred years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/israel-is-a-fulfilled-dream-nothing-that-exists-here-existed-here-a/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“Reality is painful and imperfect ... That's just the way it is, that's how we distinguish it from dreams. When something seems absolutely lovely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-eduardo-agualusa/reality-is-painful-and-imperfect-that-s-just-the-way-it-is-that-s-how/) [José Eduardo Agualusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-eduardo-agualusa/) > [Israel is a fulfilled dream. Nothing that exists here existed here a hundred years ago. "The State of the Jews" was not a title…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/israel-is-a-fulfilled-dream-nothing-that-exists-here-existed-here-a-2/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) ## 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 Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) Alejandro Taubas > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I hoped for something else. It's a simple dream, but it speaks to us so powerfully because it is our dream - one that exists at the very center of the American experience. 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