--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life doesn't count for much unless you're…" description: "\"“Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a better world. Even if it's dif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/barack-obama-17_better-world_life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-r_700123.jpg" --- # Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do… ![“Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a better world. Even if it's difficult. Even if the work seems great. Even if we don't get very far in our lifetime.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/barack-obama-17_better-world_life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-r_700123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/barack-obama-17_better-world_life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-r_700123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/barack-obama-17_better-world_life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-r_700123.jpg) > ““Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a better world. Even if it's difficult. Even if the work seems great. Even if we don't get very far in our lifetime.”” [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. Individual effort, even small, is essential for improving the future for children, despite difficulty and limited lifespan. **In simple terms:** Small actions matter for a better future. Key Takeaway Act now for future generations. Themes responsibility future children action Mood inspirational hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - community service - environmental activism - education reform - policy making Key Concepts civic duty legacy sustainability Questions to Reflect On - What small part can you play today? - How do you stay motivated despite challenges? A Different Perspective Impact may seem minimal without collective effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) ## Related quotes > [What I’ve realized is that life doesn’t count for much unless you’re willing to do your small part to leave our children — all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-ve-realized-is-that-life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The No. 1 issue in the Hispanic American community is 'How do I leave my children better off than myself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-no-1-issue-in-the-hispanic-american-community-is-how-do-i-leave/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The most important thing of all is my parents were able to leave all four of their children better off than themselves. That story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-most-important-thing-of-all-is-my-parents-were-able-to-leave-all/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [We need to rise up to the challenge if we want to give our children a better world and want them to be proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/we-need-to-rise-up-to-the-challenge-if-we-want-to-give-our-children-a/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [We bequeath to you, the next generation, our knowledge but also our problems. While we still live, let us join hands, hearts and minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalyn-sussman-yalow/we-bequeath-to-you-the-next-generation-our-knowledge-but-also-our/) [Rosalyn Sussman Yalow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalyn-sussman-yalow/) > [“Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/today-we-begin-in-earnest-the-work-of-making-sure-that-the-world-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [While we may not live to see the full realization of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-realization-of-our-ambition-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-refuse-to-leave-our-children-with-a-debt-that-they-cannot-repay/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We believe that no matter where you live - whether a village in Punjab or the bylanes of Chandni Chowk...an old section of Kolkata…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-believe-that-no-matter-where-you-live-whether-a-village-in-punjab/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Now, today, some children are enrolled in excellent programs. Some children are enrolled in mediocre programs. And some are wasting away their most formative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-today-some-children-are-enrolled-in-excellent-programs-some/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“We cannot know for certain how long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-cannot-know-for-certain-how-long-we-have-here-we-cannot-foresee/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and love, and joy. We can use each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-can-do-is-to-live-out-our-lives-as-best-we-can-with-purpose/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We start this new year in the midst of an economic crisis unlike we have seen in our lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-start-this-new-year-in-the-midst-of-an-economic-crisis-unlike-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [... the worst possible heritage to leave with children: high spiritual pretensions and low performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-possible-heritage-to-leave-with-children-high-spiritual/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If something happened along the route and you had to leave your children with Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I think you would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-something-happened-along-the-route-and-you-had-to-leave-your/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) ## 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 Better world quotes > [Something must be done to save humanity! A better world is possible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/something-must-be-done-to-save-humanity-a-better-world-is-possible/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [One Hundred Year Starship really is about the idea that is we pursue an extraordinary tomorrow; we'll build a better world today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/one-hundred-year-starship-really-is-about-the-idea-that-is-we-pursue/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [The advance of liberty is the path to both a safer and better world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-advance-of-liberty-is-the-path-to-both-a-safer-and-better-world/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [... man has an idea of a better world than this. But better does not mean different, it means unified... Religion or crime, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/man-has-an-idea-of-a-better-world-than-this-but-better-does-not-mean/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [How can I create a better world? The more you reflect, the more your life will move into the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/how-can-i-create-a-better-world-the-more-you-reflect-the-more-your/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [This would be a vastly better world to live in if Matt Drudge decided to handle his emotional problems more responsibly, and set himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weigel/this-would-be-a-vastly-better-world-to-live-in-if-matt-drudge-decided/) [David Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weigel/) > [“Up there, comrades," he would say solemnly, pointing to the sky with his large beak– "up there, just on the other side of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/up-there-comrades-he-would-say-solemnly-pointing-to-the-sky-with-his/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“When I heard Zizek’s statement, I have to admit that I reacted strongly against it. For the first twenty-five years of my adult life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaddhaka-linn/when-i-heard-zizek-s-statement-i-have-to-admit-that-i-reacted/) [Vaddhaka Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaddhaka-linn/) > [A better world could be brought about only by better individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/a-better-world-could-be-brought-about-only-by-better-individuals/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/the-arts-can-open-the-door-to-the-imagination-pushing-the-envelope-of/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Socialcam shares Autodesk's mission of helping everybody imagine, design, and create a better world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-seibel/socialcam-shares-autodesk-s-mission-of-helping-everybody-imagine/) [Michael Seibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-seibel/) > [“We don't have a lot of choice about the world we live in. But we do have choices about our world-view. ... We read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-wade-johnson/we-don-t-have-a-lot-of-choice-about-the-world-we-live-in-but-we-do/) [Kevin Wade Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-wade-johnson/) > [I believe there is another world waiting for us. A better world. And I'll be waiting for you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-believe-there-is-another-world-waiting-for-us-a-better-world-and-i/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Can we make a better world for our children? I believe we can, if enough people are concerned and get involved in changing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/can-we-make-a-better-world-for-our-children-i-believe-we-can-if/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) [Browse all 606 Better world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a better world. Even if it's difficult. Even if the work seems great. 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