--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question we ask today is not whether…" description: "\"“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works”\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/barack-obama-17_government_the-question-we-ask-today-is-not-whether_3195641.jpg" --- # The question we ask today is not whether our government is… ![“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/barack-obama-17_government_the-question-we-ask-today-is-not-whether_3195641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/barack-obama-17_government_the-question-we-ask-today-is-not-whether_3195641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/barack-obama-17_government_the-question-we-ask-today-is-not-whether_3195641.jpg) > ““The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works”” [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 focus should be on government effectiveness rather than size. **In simple terms:** Effectiveness matters more than size. Key Takeaway Prioritize performance over scale. Themes governance efficiency public policy Mood thoughtful analytical Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy evaluation - budget planning - public service delivery Key Concepts political science administrative theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we measure government effectiveness? - What reforms improve performance? A Different Perspective Size alone doesn't guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether government works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-question-we-ask-today-is-not-whether-our-government-is-too-big-or/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Every day ask yourself, "What would I do today if I were a better person?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/every-day-ask-yourself-what-would-i-do-today-if-i-were-a-better-person/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“God has made the Universe and all that is in it, can He ever fail to give us anything that we ask of Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-soriano/god-has-made-the-universe-and-all-that-is-in-it-can-he-ever-fail-to/) [Jocelyn Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-soriano/) > [“Some good questions to ask yourself are, What can I do today that may improve my situation? What do I need to pray about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/some-good-questions-to-ask-yourself-are-what-can-i-do-today-that-may/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Every time something bad happens to me, I don't ask the question, 'Why did it happen to me?' The question I ask is, 'Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-cummings/every-time-something-bad-happens-to-me-i-don-t-ask-the-question-why/) [Elijah Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-cummings/) > [“May I ask you a question?” “You may ask me anything,” he replied. “Whether or not I may answer is another issue altogether,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/may-i-ask-you-a-question-you-may-ask-me-anything-he-replied-whether/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [“What’s the best that can happen? That is the question to ask. 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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 Government quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. 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