--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the good thing about being…" description: "\"That's the good thing about being President--I can do whatever I want.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg" --- # That's the good thing about being President--I can do… ![“That's the good thing about being President--I can do whatever I want.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg) > “That's the good thing about being President--I can do whatever I want.” [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 enjoys unrestricted authority to act as he wishes. **In simple terms:** Power lets him act freely. Key Takeaway Use authority responsibly. Themes leadership power responsibility Mood confident assertive Type political motivational When to use this quote - policy decisions - public statements - crisis management Key Concepts political authority executive discretion Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance freedom with accountability? - What limits should exist on authority? A Different Perspective Power can be misused without checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) ## Related quotes > [We're breaking protocol here. That's the good thing about being President - I can do whatever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-breaking-protocol-here-that-s-the-good-thing-about-being/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-first-thing-i-d-do-as-president-is-sign-the-freedom-of-choice-act/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Of course I want to be president, I want to win, but I also want to be sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/of-course-i-want-to-be-president-i-want-to-win-but-i-also-want-to-be/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-the-commander-see-i-don-t-need-to-explain-i-do-not-need-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The worst thing about not being president anymore is I was disoriented for three weeks because nobody every played a song when I walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-worst-thing-about-not-being-president-anymore-is-i-was/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [It's one thing to have a president with whose politics you disagree; it's another to have a president who doesn't even seem to care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/it-s-one-thing-to-have-a-president-with-whose-politics-you-disagree/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) > [I think that what is truly unfortunate is when an entire party makes a decision that they're going to block every single thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-think-that-what-is-truly-unfortunate-is-when-an-entire-party-makes/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [We need a president that is sitting down, getting Americans to work, getting this economy going. That is the single most important thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-need-a-president-that-is-sitting-down-getting-americans-to-work/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Without a Mayaguez, or something comparable that we don't see in the immediate future, there is probably no one thing the President can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/without-a-mayaguez-or-something-comparable-that-we-don-t-see-in-the/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [I'm a huge Obama fan. I think it's such an unbelievably great thing to have a President who's competent and not insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-cohen/i-m-a-huge-obama-fan-i-think-it-s-such-an-unbelievably-great-thing-to/) [Randy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-cohen/) > [There is one thing about being President -- nobody can tell you when to sit down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/there-is-one-thing-about-being-president-nobody-can-tell-you-when-to/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The best thing about being President is that it gets you out of American life. I don't know what the theory is behind this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/the-best-thing-about-being-president-is-that-it-gets-you-out-of/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [ The first thing I'd do \[as a president\] is de-regulate about 90-percent of the things that they've got regulation on, OK, including duck hunting.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/si-robertson/the-first-thing-i-d-do-as-a-president-is-de-regulate-about-90-percent/) [Si Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/si-robertson/) > [I can only say this, a very, very important element of any country, but our country, and in my opinion, the single most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-can-only-say-this-a-very-very-important-element-of-any-country-but/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ The great thing about not being president anymore is I can say whatever I want, about anything. Of course \[now\], nobody really cares what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-great-thing-about-not-being-president-anymore-is-i-can-say/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) ## 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 About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the good thing about being President--I can do whatever I want.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-president-i-can-do-whatever-i-want/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-president-i-can-do-whatever-i-want/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/barack-obama-17_about_that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-presid_1013371.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's the good thing about being President--I can do whatever I want.” — 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": "That's the good thing about being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-president-i-can-do-whatever-i-want/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-s-the-good-thing-about-being-president-i-can-do-whatever-i-want/#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 } } ] } ```