--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the American people can change…" description: "\"I think the American people can change Washington. But I think that it is not going to change, because somebody from on high directs that change.\" — Ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-can-change-w_1646077.jpg" --- # I think the American people can change Washington. But I… ![“I think the American people can change Washington. But I think that it is not going to change, because somebody from on high directs that change.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-can-change-w_1646077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-can-change-w_1646077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-can-change-w_1646077.jpg) > “I think the American people can change Washington. But I think that it is not going to change, because somebody from on high directs that change.” [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. Change in government is limited by entrenched powers and elite influence. **In simple terms:** Powerful interests hinder political reform. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of grassroots change. Themes politics power reform Mood cautious realistic Type political analytical When to use this quote - election strategy - policy advocacy - grassroots organizing - public discourse Key Concepts institutional inertia elite control Questions to Reflect On - What can citizens do to influence elite decisions? - How can reforms be made sustainable? A Different Perspective Change also requires internal shifts within institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-washington-299715/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People can change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-can-change/) [People change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-change/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-think-610002/) ## Related quotes > [But I think the - what the tea party movement demonstrates, and I think the, the, the enthusiasm that we're seeing from independents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-think-the-what-the-tea-party-movement-demonstrates-and-i-think/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [I hear from everybody, and they say 'Joe, nowhere but in Washington do they think not working together makes sense.' We're not hired to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-donnelly/i-hear-from-everybody-and-they-say-joe-nowhere-but-in-washington-do-2/) [Joe Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-donnelly/) > [The travel that I've spent around the country, I always come back with ideas for L.A. and vice versa: My experiences in L.A. give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/the-travel-that-i-ve-spent-around-the-country-i-always-come-back-with/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [I think we have enough Washington in Washington, and I think maybe we need a little more Florida, and this recipe that's worked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-lopez-cantera/i-think-we-have-enough-washington-in-washington-and-i-think-maybe-we/) [Carlos Lopez-Cantera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-lopez-cantera/) > [I hear from everybody, and they say Joe, nowhere but in Washington do they think not working together makes sense. Were not hired to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-donnelly/i-hear-from-everybody-and-they-say-joe-nowhere-but-in-washington-do/) [Joe Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-donnelly/) > [In order for our country and economy to get on the right track again, we need a leader who understands how the real economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-order-for-our-country-and-economy-to-get-on-the-right-track-again/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In order to change Washington, we're going to have to change the people that we send there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kander/in-order-to-change-washington-we-re-going-to-have-to-change-the/) [Jason Kander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kander/) > [If it takes talking about unpleasant truths to change Washington, then so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/if-it-takes-talking-about-unpleasant-truths-to-change-washington-then/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [To change Washington, you need to change the women's player list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/to-change-washington-you-need-to-change-the-women-s-player-list/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [We didn't come here to become Washington, we came here to change Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-noem/we-didn-t-come-here-to-become-washington-we-came-here-to-change/) [Kristi Noem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-noem/) > [I want to deal with the homeless situation here in Washington, D.C. I think it is a travesty that we've got men - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-deal-with-the-homeless-situation-here-in-washington-d-c-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The degree of polarization that currently exists in Washington is such where I think it's fair to say if I presented a cure for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-degree-of-polarization-that-currently-exists-in-washington-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE... not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington... I'm asking you to believe in yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-asking-you-to-believe-not-just-in-my-ability-to-bring-about-real-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I promised to bring change to Washington. The underlying reason for the economic mess we're in has been building for years. It's a fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-promised-to-bring-change-to-washington-the-underlying-reason-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You can't change Washington from the inside, you can only change it from the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-can-t-change-washington-from-the-inside-you-can-only-change-it/) [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 American people quotes > [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/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) [Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the American people can change Washington. 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