--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't expect government to solve…" description: "\"People don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/barack-obama-17_america_people-don-t-expect-government-to-solve_782026.jpg" --- # People don't expect government to solve all their… ![“People don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/barack-obama-17_america_people-don-t-expect-government-to-solve_782026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/barack-obama-17_america_people-don-t-expect-government-to-solve_782026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/barack-obama-17_america_people-don-t-expect-government-to-solve_782026.jpg) > “People don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do 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. Citizens believe government should improve opportunities, especially for children, by shifting priorities toward equity and access. **In simple terms:** People want better chances for all children through government action. Key Takeaway Prioritize policies that expand opportunity for every child. Themes education equity government responsibility social mobility Mood hopeful determined concerned Type political inspirational call to action When to use this quote - school funding reforms - child health programs - community mentorship - affordable childcare Key Concepts public policy social justice intergenerational opportunity Questions to Reflect On - How can we build consensus for priority shifts? - What concrete policies best ensure equal opportunity? A Different Perspective Change may be limited by political opposition and funding constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-decent-1483664/) [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Expect Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-government-464948/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-solve-430674/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Priorities Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities-make-2303766/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-sense-5625399/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve/) ## Related quotes > [I don't expect the government to solve my problems, but at least I expect them to understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-don-t-expect-the-government-to-solve-my-problems-but-at-least-i/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I've got confidence that most people in America still have a decent sense of manners, propriety, morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-got-confidence-that-most-people-in-america-still-have-a-decent/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If prices go down, we will have problems - problems in the sense of spillover to other areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/if-prices-go-down-we-will-have-problems-problems-in-the-sense-of/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [We don't think government can solve all our problems. But we don't think government is the source of all our problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-don-t-think-government-can-solve-all-our-problems-but-we-don-t/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The government can't solve every problem, but an enlightened government can make sure that people can work hard for their dreams and achieve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-government-can-t-solve-every-problem-but-an-enlightened/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Question your priorities often, make sure God always comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/question-your-priorities-often-make-sure-god-always-comes-first/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [As in all things, it is terribly important to have a sense of priorities in what you do. And to make certain that priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/as-in-all-things-it-is-terribly-important-to-have-a-sense-of/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Deadlines aren't bad. They help you organize your time. They help you set priorities. They make you get going when you might not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/deadlines-aren-t-bad-they-help-you-organize-your-time-they-help-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [My priorities are to make sure we get the prescription drug bill, that we fund the research in NIH adequately, and that we fund…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-regula/my-priorities-are-to-make-sure-we-get-the-prescription-drug-bill-that/) [Ralph Regula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-regula/) > [I've always been a strong supporter of environmental protection and initiatives in that area. But I'm willing to set priorities. If we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-gregg/i-ve-always-been-a-strong-supporter-of-environmental-protection-and/) [Judd Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-gregg/) > [“When we make decisions that honor our dreams and priorities, we also make choices about what we won’t prioritize. We must embrace these choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hackley/when-we-make-decisions-that-honor-our-dreams-and-priorities-we-also/) [Sarah Hackley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hackley/) > [The aim of open government is to take advantage of the know-how and entrepreneurial spirit of those outside government institutions to work together with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-simone-noveck/the-aim-of-open-government-is-to-take-advantage-of-the-know-how-and/) [Beth Simone Noveck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-simone-noveck/) > [Black people cannot look to government to solve their problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/black-people-cannot-look-to-government-to-solve-their-problems/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) > [The role of the government is not to solve religious or sectarian or ethnic problems. These are age-old. I don't think any government of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haider-al-abadi/the-role-of-the-government-is-not-to-solve-religious-or-sectarian-or/) [Haider al-Abadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haider-al-abadi/) > [We can all agree that government cant solve the obesity crisis alone. Its an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-can-all-agree-that-government-cant-solve-the-obesity-crisis-alone/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [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/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [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/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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