--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the American people have a…" description: "\"I think the American people have a generous instinct. They understand that we're a nation of immigrants. But if those folks are going to live in this c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg" --- # I think the American people have a generous instinct. They… ![“I think the American people have a generous instinct. They understand that we're a nation of immigrants. But if those folks are going to live in this country, they have to be put on a pathway to citizenship that involves them paying a fine, making sure that they are at the back of the line and not…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg) > “I think the American people have a generous instinct. They understand that we're a nation of immigrants. But if those folks are going to live in this country, they have to be put on a pathway to citizenship that involves them paying a fine, making sure that they are at the back of the line and not cutting in front of people who applied legally to come into the country.” [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 speaker argues that while Americans are generous and immigrant‑friendly, newcomers should follow a fair, orderly process that includes penalties for bypassing legal channels. **In simple terms:** Americans are kind but immigration must be orderly and fair. Key Takeaway Support a transparent, merit‑based path with consequences for rule‑breaking. Themes immigration fairness law national identity Mood thoughtful concerned Type political policy When to use this quote - policy debate - community integration - legal reform - public opinion Key Concepts social contract policy design public sentiment Questions to Reflect On - How can fairness be balanced with compassion? - What mechanisms ensure the process stays just? A Different Perspective May overlook humanitarian concerns and the complexity of individual cases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Illegal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-immigration/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigrants Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants-folks-2327880/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Nation Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-immigrants-254781/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Pathways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathways/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Think American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-american-258873/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I will argue until my last breath for a pathway to citizenship that is quick and efficient because I want to end this chapter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-will-argue-until-my-last-breath-for-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [But I also want to give them a pathway so that they can earn citizenship, earn a legal status, start learning English, pay a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-i-also-want-to-give-them-a-pathway-so-that-they-can-earn/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [This is a serious problem of major concern, and we have got to approach it in a way that is consistent with this nation's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/this-is-a-serious-problem-of-major-concern-and-we-have-got-to/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [America is a nation of immigrants. And so the question is, how do we make legal immigration faster, less bureaucratic, cut the red tape?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-is-a-nation-of-immigrants-and-so-the-question-is-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-fellow-americans-we-are-and-always-will-be-a-nation-of-immigrants/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Its possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/its-possible-to-shape-a-law-that-upholds-our-tradition-as-a-nation-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ We \[Americans\] are a nation of immigrants. We all understand what this country has become because talent from all around the world wants to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-americans-are-a-nation-of-immigrants-we-all-understand-what-this/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We feel a pathway to citizenship would reward illegal activity, ... Amnesty encourages further illegal immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-chao/we-feel-a-pathway-to-citizenship-would-reward-illegal-activity/) [Elaine Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-chao/) > [Our goal is to have a country that's not divided by race. And my impression, as I travel around the country, is that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-goal-is-to-have-a-country-that-s-not-divided-by-race-and-my/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The problem is, that we've got a position, often times by the NRA that says any regulation whatsoever is the camel's nose under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-problem-is-that-we-ve-got-a-position-often-times-by-the-nra-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Absolutely. I think, I think the American people, at their core, are a decent people. I think that we still have prejudice in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/absolutely-i-think-i-think-the-american-people-at-their-core-are-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think the American people recognize is after a decade of war it's time to do some nation building here at home. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-recognize-is-after-a-decade-of-war-it-s/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think the American people recognize that the world has shrunk. That it's interconnected. That you're not going to put that genie back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-recognize-that-the-world-has-shrunk-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [This kind of game in which anybody who I know, regardless of how flimsy the relationship is, that somehow their ideas could be attributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-kind-of-game-in-which-anybody-who-i-know-regardless-of-how/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The American people recognize that their careers or their kids' careers are going to have to be more dynamic. That they might not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-recognize-that-their-careers-or-their-kids/) [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 have a generous instinct. They understand that we're a nation of immigrants. But if those folks are going to live in this country, they have to be put on a pathway to citizenship that involves them paying a fine, making sure that they are at the back of the line and not cutting in front of people who applied legally to come into the country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-have-a-generous-instinct-they-understand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American people" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-have-a-generous-instinct-they-understand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/barack-obama-17_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-have-a-gener_229684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the American people have a generous instinct. They understand that we're a nation of immigrants. But…” — 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": "I think the American people have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-have-a-generous-instinct-they-understand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-have-a-generous-instinct-they-understand/#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 } } ] } ```