--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always amused that people were…" description: "\"I was always amused that people were either skeptical or surprised that I would choose a Hillary Clinton as a secretary of state. To my mind, having so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg" --- # I was always amused that people were either skeptical or… ![“I was always amused that people were either skeptical or surprised that I would choose a Hillary Clinton as a secretary of state. To my mind, having somebody smart, tough, capable with her own stature, who could travel around the world and command the stage, was a huge asset.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg) > “I was always amused that people were either skeptical or surprised that I would choose a Hillary Clinton as a secretary of state. To my mind, having somebody smart, tough, capable with her own stature, who could travel around the world and command the stage, was a huge asset.” [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. Choosing competent, resilient leaders, regardless of gender, strengthens governance and reflects meritocratic values. **In simple terms:** Hire based on ability, not gender. Key Takeaway Prioritize skill and character. Themes leadership gender equality meritocracy Mood inspirational determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - hiring officials - public speaking - policy making Key Concepts Political strategy social progress Questions to Reflect On - What criteria should dominate leadership selection? - How can we reduce gender bias? A Different Perspective Bias may still affect decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amused/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Assets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assets/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Choose Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-hillary-3955274/) [Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) [Clinton Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton-secretary-1245882/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hillary/) [Hillary clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hillary-clinton/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Skeptical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptical/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Stature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stature/) [Surprised Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised-choose-3955275/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Michele Flournoy, by the way, is not just a talented and bright person. She was Hillary Clinton's secretary of defense in-waiting. So for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/michele-flournoy-by-the-way-is-not-just-a-talented-and-bright-person/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [I fully, fully concede that Secretary Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of State for four years, has more experience - hat is not arguable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-fully-fully-concede-that-secretary-hillary-clinton-who-was/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The thing on cyber-security. Yes, it was - every government employee goes through this training. You do hear at corporations, as well. In addition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/the-thing-on-cyber-security-yes-it-was-every-government-employee-goes/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I have said repeatedly that America doesn't torture and I'm going to make sure that we don't torture. Those are part and parcel an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-have-said-repeatedly-that-america-doesn-t-torture-and-i-m-going-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If we're not vigilant foreign countries can have an impact on the political debate in the United States in ways that might not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-we-re-not-vigilant-foreign-countries-can-have-an-impact-on-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ I'm skeptical that \[the Republicans\] can do \[something better with healthcare\] mainly because for seven years now, including when we first tried to pass… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-skeptical-that-the-republicans-can-do-something-better-with/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What makes a nation great is not primarily its great men, but the stature of its innumerable mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/what-makes-a-nation-great-is-not-primarily-its-great-men-but-the/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [My short stature may have something to do with my tendency to shout when enraged. How else is anyone going to hear me way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/my-short-stature-may-have-something-to-do-with-my-tendency-to-shout/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [Architecture is the alphabet of giants; it is the largest set of symbols ever made to meet the eyes of men. A tower stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/architecture-is-the-alphabet-of-giants-it-is-the-largest-set-of/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What we are assigned to bear is in a sense a measure of our stature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/what-we-are-assigned-to-bear-is-in-a-sense-a-measure-of-our-stature/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [A wife of your own stature is the greatest of all blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/a-wife-of-your-own-stature-is-the-greatest-of-all-blessings/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Writing is a intensely personal activity. I can pen down my best thoughts when I'm alone. But when one is elevated into the stature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/writing-is-a-intensely-personal-activity-i-can-pen-down-my-best/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“Remember, you don’t have to be mighty in stature to be mighty in battle. You don’t have to be beautiful or strong, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-larson/remember-you-don-t-have-to-be-mighty-in-stature-to-be-mighty-in/) [Susie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-larson/) > [Nearly all the Gauls are of a lofty stature, white, and of ruddy complexion; terrible from the sternness of their eyes, very quarrelsome, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammianus-marcellinus/nearly-all-the-gauls-are-of-a-lofty-stature-white-and-of-ruddy/) [Ammianus Marcellinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammianus-marcellinus/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## 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 Amused quotes > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [The writer's Queen Victoria is his public, and he would do well to keep a bust of the old Queen on his desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-watson-fowler/the-writer-s-queen-victoria-is-his-public-and-he-would-do-well-to/) [Henry Watson Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-watson-fowler/) > [I have been much amused at ye singular phenomena resulting from bringing of a needle into contact with a piece of amber or resin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-been-much-amused-at-ye-singular-phenomena-resulting-from/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I have found that the key to being happy — well, one of the keys, anyway — is to be easily amused,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-wheaton/i-have-found-that-the-key-to-being-happy-well-one-of-the-keys-anyway/) [Wil Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-wheaton/) > [Global warming ... may be a plaintiff lawyer's dream. And it's interesting, in a perverse way, to imagine how a jury in 2050 might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/global-warming-may-be-a-plaintiff-lawyer-s-dream-and-it-s-interesting/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I am too old to have ever been very worried about what "genre" any given book of mine might be. I read everything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-am-too-old-to-have-ever-been-very-worried-about-what-genre-any/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [ \[The doctrine of air\] I was led into in consequence of inhabiting a house adjoining to a public brewery, where I at first amused… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/the-doctrine-of-air-i-was-led-into-in-consequence-of-inhabiting-a/) [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) > [“Well at least your awake," he sighs "You had me worried." "Get your hands away from me." He waves sheathed fingers in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/well-at-least-your-awake-he-sighs-you-had-me-worried-get-your-hands/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“You." I gasped. "Me," he agreed, amused.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/you-i-gasped-me-he-agreed-amused/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) > [“From the corner of her eyes, Arima could see Leyla putting a hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles, and Myddrin had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beerden/from-the-corner-of-her-eyes-arima-could-see-leyla-putting-a-hand-over/) [Stephanie Beerden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beerden/) > [A tattered copy of Johnson's large Dictionary was a great delight to me, on account of the specimens of English versifications which I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-larcom/a-tattered-copy-of-johnson-s-large-dictionary-was-a-great-delight-to/) [Lucy Larcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-larcom/) > [“I can but just recollect having been amused at the Theatres, and the Opera, and the Pantheon, and Ranelagh, and all those places, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/i-can-but-just-recollect-having-been-amused-at-the-theatres-and-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) [Browse all 237 Amused quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amused/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always amused that people were either skeptical or surprised that I would choose a Hillary Clinton as a secretary of state. To my mind, having somebody smart, tough, capable with her own stature, who could travel around the world and command the stage, was a huge asset.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-either-skeptical-or-surprised/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amused" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-either-skeptical-or-surprised/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffc/barack-obama-17_amused_i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-eit_2064524.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was always amused that people were either skeptical or surprised that I would choose a Hillary Clinton as…” — 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 was always amused that people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-either-skeptical-or-surprised/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-always-amused-that-people-were-either-skeptical-or-surprised/#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 } } ] } ```