--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've got to be able to have a…" description: "\"We've got to be able to have a conversation and recognize we're all Americans; we all want the best for this country. We may have some disagreements in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg" --- # We've got to be able to have a conversation and recognize… ![“We've got to be able to have a conversation and recognize we're all Americans; we all want the best for this country. We may have some disagreements in terms of how to get there, but all of us want to make sure that our economy is strong, that jobs are growing. All of us want to make sure that…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg) > “We've got to be able to have a conversation and recognize we're all Americans; we all want the best for this country. We may have some disagreements in terms of how to get there, but all of us want to make sure that our economy is strong, that jobs are growing. All of us want to make sure that people aren't bankrupt when they get sick. All of us want to make sure that young people can afford an education.” [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. Emphasizes shared national goals despite political differences, urging unity for economic and social welfare. **In simple terms:** People share common hopes despite disagreements. Key Takeaway Seek common ground for collective progress. Themes unity politics economics social welfare Mood hopeful conciliatory Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political debates - policy negotiations - community organizing Key Concepts civic engagement policy national identity Questions to Reflect On - What shared values can bridge partisan gaps? - How can policies reflect diverse perspectives? A Different Perspective Political polarization can hinder consensus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Americans Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-want-242701/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Disagreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagreement/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Recognize Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-americans-1608396/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Sure People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure-people-358763/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-best-238442/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [Okay, so what we really have to recognize and own as Americans is that our way of being is itself perhaps the greatest threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/okay-so-what-we-really-have-to-recognize-and-own-as-americans-is-that/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [I recognize that most Americans are tired of U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan after more than 18 years of war. I am, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/i-recognize-that-most-americans-are-tired-of-u-s-troops-fighting-in/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [I think we recognize as Americans there are certain things that are just primary to the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/i-think-we-recognize-as-americans-there-are-certain-things-that-are/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [All Americans want what is best for America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-schultz/all-americans-want-what-is-best-for-america/) [Ed Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-schultz/) > [“Whatever happens I want you to think of yourselves as young Americans, and I want you to be proud of that. It is difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ryrie-brink/whatever-happens-i-want-you-to-think-of-yourselves-as-young-americans/) [Carol Ryrie Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ryrie-brink/) > [Certainly the Americans want to buy rights, but have no idea what to do with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/certainly-the-americans-want-to-buy-rights-but-have-no-idea-what-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Everything depends on the Americans. If they want to make war for 20 years then we shall make war for 20 years. If they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ho-chi-minh/everything-depends-on-the-americans-if-they-want-to-make-war-for-20/) [Ho Chi Minh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ho-chi-minh/) > [When there are elections, people tend to vote for peace. They don't vote for war. So Americans want to promote those principles around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-there-are-elections-people-tend-to-vote-for-peace-they-don-t/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“And now we realize what is expected—the Americans want to exchange. It is apparent that they have not long been in the war; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/and-now-we-realize-what-is-expected-the-americans-want-to-exchange-it/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [Americans want someone who is accountable to them above self, above party, and above any special interest. They want a President that has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/americans-want-someone-who-is-accountable-to-them-above-self-above/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [If the Americans do not want to support us anymore, let them go, get out! Let them forget their humanitarian promises!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-van-thieu/if-the-americans-do-not-want-to-support-us-anymore-let-them-go-get/) [Nguyen Van Thieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-van-thieu/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-would-not-be-running-for-president-if-i-didn-t-believe-with-all-my/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Tea Party I have huge disagreements with, obviously. But I give them credit for having activated themselves. And they made a difference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-tea-party-i-have-huge-disagreements-with-obviously-but-i-give/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the great qualities of Chancellor Merkel is that she is steady. She analyzes a situation. She's honest. Sometimes we've had disagreements, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-of-the-great-qualities-of-chancellor-merkel-is-that-she-is-steady/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've got to be able to have a conversation and recognize we're all Americans; we all want the best for this country. We may have some disagreements in terms of how to get there, but all of us want to make sure that our economy is strong, that jobs are growing. All of us want to make sure that people aren't bankrupt when they get sick. All of us want to make sure that young people can afford an education.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-and-recognize-we-re-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-and-recognize-we-re-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/barack-obama-17_able_we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversat_546589.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We've got to be able to have a conversation and recognize we're all Americans; we all want the best for this…” — 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've got to be able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-and-recognize-we-re-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-and-recognize-we-re-all/#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 } } ] } ```