--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs…" description: "\"“We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs off and begin the work of remaking America.”\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg" --- # We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs off and begin the… ![“We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs off and begin the work of remaking America.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg) > ““We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs off and begin the work of remaking America.”” [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. Encourages personal renewal and collective effort to rebuild the nation after setbacks. **In simple terms:** Renew and act to rebuild America. Key Takeaway Take responsibility and start rebuilding. Themes renewal responsibility politics Mood determined optimistic Type motivational political When to use this quote - community projects - political activism - personal growth Key Concepts civic engagement national identity Questions to Reflect On - What personal steps can you take to contribute? - How can communities foster collective renewal? A Different Perspective Change requires broad consensus and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lift Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lift-dust-4442076/) [Ourselfs Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ourselfs-begin-4442077/) [Remaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaking-445159/) [Remaking America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaking-america-445157/) [Work Remaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-remaking-4442078/) ## Related quotes > [ “You can't really move forward until you look back. \[From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you-look-back-from-remaking/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”b”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/starting-today-we-must-pick-ourselves-up-dust-ourselves-off-and-begin/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I didn't like The Wiz and it wasn't because black people were doing it. I didn't like The Wiz because it was a badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-didn-t-like-the-wiz-and-it-wasn-t-because-black-people-were-doing/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [My rule was not to paint things as they were. I wasn't copying; I was remaking them as my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/my-rule-was-not-to-paint-things-as-they-were-i-wasn-t-copying-i-was/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [I regard remaking a film as creating something again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bong-joon-ho/i-regard-remaking-a-film-as-creating-something-again/) [Bong Joon-ho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bong-joon-ho/) > [I would rather fail being original than succeed remaking something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-rather-fail-being-original-than-succeed-remaking-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started remaking songs that were already poppin' - it was easier like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-mosey/i-started-remaking-songs-that-were-already-poppin-it-was-easier-like/) [Lil Mosey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-mosey/) > [I'm generally not a fan of remaking great films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-m-generally-not-a-fan-of-remaking-great-films/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [“The remaking of Corbin Wale was a constant overturning, like the ocean tides. The remaking of Alex Barrow had been far less tempestuous, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roan-parrish/the-remaking-of-corbin-wale-was-a-constant-overturning-like-the-ocean/) [Roan Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roan-parrish/) > [Something I'm completely not open to is remaking movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/something-i-m-completely-not-open-to-is-remaking-movies/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [I am strictly against remaking a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-babu/i-am-strictly-against-remaking-a-movie/) [Mahesh Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-babu/) > [“It's not about being unmade; it's about remaking, one aching step at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-about-being-unmade-it-s-about-remaking-one-aching-step-at-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is a continual process of remaking ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-continual-process-of-remaking-ourselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd been DJ-ing in these clubs in N.Y. and I hated everything that was coming out. So I decided I would make it myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-d-been-dj-ing-in-these-clubs-in-n-y-and-i-hated-everything-that-was/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [I don't think we would be specifically remaking "Child's Play 2" and "Child's Play 3". I imagine we'd be dreaming up whole new stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/i-don-t-think-we-would-be-specifically-remaking-child-s-play-2-and/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) ## 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 Remaking America quotes > [ “You can't really move forward until you look back. \[From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you-look-back-from-remaking/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”b”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/starting-today-we-must-pick-ourselves-up-dust-ourselves-off-and-begin/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 3 Remaking America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaking-america-445157/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs off and begin the work of remaking America.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs-off-and-begin-the-work-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Remaking America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs-off-and-begin-the-work-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/barack-obama-17_quote_we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs_2138612.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must lift ourselves up, dust ourselfs off and begin the work of remaking America.” — 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": "“We must lift ourselves up, dust...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs-off-and-begin-the-work-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-must-lift-ourselves-up-dust-ourselfs-off-and-begin-the-work-of/#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 } } ] } ```