--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Americans are called on to innovate…" description: "\"When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars or more fuel-efficient appliances, or making..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg" --- # When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we… ![“When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars or more fuel-efficient appliances, or making sure that we are putting in place the kinds of equipment that prevents harm to the ozone layer and eliminates acid rain. At every one of these…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg) > “When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars or more fuel-efficient appliances, or making sure that we are putting in place the kinds of equipment that prevents harm to the ozone layer and eliminates acid rain. At every one of these steps, there have been folks who have said it can't be done. There have been naysayers who said this is going to destroy jobs and destroy industry. And it doesn't happen because once we have a clear target to meet, we typically meet it. And we find the best ways to do it.” [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. Innovation faces skepticism, yet clear goals and determination overcome resistance, leading to technological and ecological progress. **In simple terms:** People doubt new ideas, but clear goals make them happen. Key Takeaway Set clear targets and persist. Themes innovation environment skepticism Mood inspirational determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - energy efficiency projects - environmental regulation - public advocacy Key Concepts policy technology adoption Questions to Reflect On - What goals can we set to drive change? - How do we address job loss concerns? A Different Perspective Resistance may delay progress and increase costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acid/) [Acid rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acid-rain/) [Appliances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appliances/) [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Called Innovate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-innovate-2484354/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Efficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficient/) [Eliminates Acid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliminates-acid-2484355/) [Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fuel/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Industry Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry-doesn-693957/) [Innovate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovate/) [Innovate Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovate-making-2484353/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Layers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/layers/) [Naysayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naysayers/) [Ozone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ozone/) [Ozone layer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ozone-layer/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I was part of Environment Canada's work to stop acid rain, create national parks, clean up the Great Lakes, develop new environmental legislation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-was-part-of-environment-canada-s-work-to-stop-acid-rain-create/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [The 'Wall Street Journal' is quite irate that I rank them with industry front groups and cranks denying climate change. But they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/the-wall-street-journal-is-quite-irate-that-i-rank-them-with-industry/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [It is personal - deep in my bones and my flesh - the knowledge that we squandered our chance to avoid the climate emergency;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/it-is-personal-deep-in-my-bones-and-my-flesh-the-knowledge-that-we/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [Increasingly, our leaders must deal with dangers that threaten the entire world, where an understanding of those dangers and the possible solutions depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/increasingly-our-leaders-must-deal-with-dangers-that-threaten-the/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Think about this for a moment. If the financial services industry is forced to take the time to find out what their customers' best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helaine-olen/think-about-this-for-a-moment-if-the-financial-services-industry-is/) [Helaine Olen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helaine-olen/) > [To me, the music industry doesn't exist, it's like the devil, it doesn't exist if you don't believe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-nokia/to-me-the-music-industry-doesn-t-exist-it-s-like-the-devil-it-doesn-t/) [Princess Nokia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-nokia/) > [I might be one of the very few people in this industry who doesn't have a 'me too' story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/i-might-be-one-of-the-very-few-people-in-this-industry-who-doesn-t/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) > [I am tired of being in an industry that doesn't appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-campbell/i-am-tired-of-being-in-an-industry-that-doesn-t-appreciate-me/) [Luther Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-campbell/) > [“Your competitors probably won’t come from within your industry—they could come from any industry, or from one that doesn’t exist yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcquivey/your-competitors-probably-won-t-come-from-within-your-industry-they/) [James McQuivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcquivey/) > [If your child gets asthma, the fossil fuel industry doesn't pay. Or if there's a natural disaster, the bill is paid by the taxpayer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/if-your-child-gets-asthma-the-fossil-fuel-industry-doesn-t-pay-or-if/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The industry doesn’t want you to know the truth about what you’re eating, because if you knew, you might not want to eat it,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-industry-doesn-t-want-you-to-know-the-truth-about-what-you-re/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [The wonderful thing about drama school is that it stretches you in a way the industry doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/the-wonderful-thing-about-drama-school-is-that-it-stretches-you-in-a/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [The sugar industry doesn't want to see more of the agricultural areas turned into storm-water treatment areas. Ultimately they want to develop that land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lee/the-sugar-industry-doesn-t-want-to-see-more-of-the-agricultural-areas/) [Charles Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lee/) > [I don't want to follow the map of what the music industry does because I've already lived the industry and I still live the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-premier/i-don-t-want-to-follow-the-map-of-what-the-music-industry-does/) [DJ Premier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-premier/) > [This is an industry that doesn't have the common cold... It has cholera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-azenberg/this-is-an-industry-that-doesn-t-have-the-common-cold-it-has-cholera/) [Emanuel Azenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-azenberg/) ## 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 Acid quotes > [Grew up in a small town where there was only one crazy guy. He didn't even go insane doing anything good, like going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/grew-up-in-a-small-town-where-there-was-only-one-crazy-guy-he-didn-t/) [Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/balance-is-key-in-cooking-you-want-a-little-acid-a-little-sweet-a/) [Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [If you've never seen an elephant ski, then you've never been on acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-ve-never-seen-an-elephant-ski-then-you-ve-never-been-on-acid/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/envy-may-justly-be-called-the-gall-of-bitterness-and-bond-of-iniquity/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [“They threw rotten fruit at me and told me next time it would be acid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/they-threw-rotten-fruit-at-me-and-told-me-next-time-it-would-be-acid/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“We were left with nothing because of a love like acid that ate its way through our entire family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-ronald/we-were-left-with-nothing-because-of-a-love-like-acid-that-ate-its/) [R.D. Ronald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-ronald/) > [The acid test of our love for God is obedience to His Word. The greatest ability is dependability. The test of your character is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-jones-sr/the-acid-test-of-our-love-for-god-is-obedience-to-his-word-the/) [Bob Jones, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-jones-sr/) > [You must have had such a great childhood with a man like that for your father. (Delphine) Yeah. All puppy dogs and rainbows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-must-have-had-such-a-great-childhood-with-a-man-like-that-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Since I was gay and loved disco music, it was kinda pre-programmed that my first experiences with house music and acid - which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-kohncke/since-i-was-gay-and-loved-disco-music-it-was-kinda-pre-programmed/) [Justus Kohncke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justus-kohncke/) > [We open the halves of a miracle, and a clotting of acids brims into the starry divisions: creation's original juices, irreducible, changeless, alive: so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/we-open-the-halves-of-a-miracle-and-a-clotting-of-acids-brims-into/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I was standing in the street with people walking past me and I could feel my face evaporating. I thought I was on fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-was-standing-in-the-street-with-people-walking-past-me-and-i-could/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [Once I slapped a rapper with mace, Then I spit acid in his face, after he rinsed his eyes, no wait... I actually grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoahe-monch/once-i-slapped-a-rapper-with-mace-then-i-spit-acid-in-his-face-after/) [Pharoahe Monch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoahe-monch/) [Browse all 448 Acid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars or more fuel-efficient appliances, or making sure that we are putting in place the kinds of equipment that prevents harm to the ozone layer and eliminates acid rain. At every one of these steps, there have been folks who have said it can't be done. There have been naysayers who said this is going to destroy jobs and destroy industry. And it doesn't happen because once we have a clear target to meet, we typically meet it. And we find the best ways to do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate-that-s-what-we-do-whether-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate-that-s-what-we-do-whether-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/barack-obama-17_acid_when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate_1047353.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars…” — 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": "When Americans are called on to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate-that-s-what-we-do-whether-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate-that-s-what-we-do-whether-it/#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 } } ] } ```