--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While we may not live to see the full…" description: "\"While we may not live to see the full realization of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world we leave to our children wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg" --- # While we may not live to see the full realization of our… ![“While we may not live to see the full realization of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world we leave to our children will be better off for what we did.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg) > “While we may not live to see the full realization of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world we leave to our children will be better off for what we did.” [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. Even if we don't see all outcomes, our actions improve the world for future children, giving us purpose. **In simple terms:** Our work benefits kids even if we don't see it. Key Takeaway Act for future generations. Themes legacy responsibility optimism environment Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community projects - long‑term planning Key Concepts ethics intergenerational justice hope Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you want to leave? - How can you stay motivated without immediate payoff? A Different Perspective Immediate results may be unseen, causing frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The most important thing of all is my parents were able to leave all four of their children better off than themselves. That story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-most-important-thing-of-all-is-my-parents-were-able-to-leave-all/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/today-we-begin-in-earnest-the-work-of-making-sure-that-the-world-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I refuse to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-refuse-to-leave-our-children-with-a-debt-that-they-cannot-repay/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children – all of our children – a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-your-small/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What I’ve realized is that life doesn’t count for much unless you’re willing to do your small part to leave our children — all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-ve-realized-is-that-life-doesn-t-count-for-much-unless-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I would be doing so, I have no problem with Obama's long-planned 'change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-could-never-be-a-politician-but-as-uncomfortable-as-i-would-be/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think there are hard-liners inside of Iran that think it is the right thing to do to oppose us, to seek to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-there-are-hard-liners-inside-of-iran-that-think-it-is-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We think about the enormous costs of homelessness, or the enormous cost of HIV/AIDS, over the long term, as people visit emergency rooms, etc.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-think-about-the-enormous-costs-of-homelessness-or-the-enormous/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I don't think there's a lot of dispute for this. You can argue that we didn't get everything done that we wanted to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-lot-of-dispute-for-this-you-can-argue-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The more we can encourage participation, I think the better off we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-more-we-can-encourage-participation-i-think-the-better-off-we-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Of course, there is no question that Libya - and the world - will be better off with Gaddafi out of power. I, along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/of-course-there-is-no-question-that-libya-and-the-world-will-be/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I became a lightning rod for some partisan battles. I could not be prouder of the track record we've put together. By almost every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-became-a-lightning-rod-for-some-partisan-battles-i-could-not-be/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-applaud-the-supreme-court-s-decision-to-strike-down-the-defense-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I have the satisfaction of knowing I did something useful for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-i-did-something-useful-for-society/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/success-is-peace-of-mind-which-is-a-direct-result-of-self/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## 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 Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While we may not live to see the full realization of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world we leave to our children will be better off for what we did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-realization-of-our-ambition-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-realization-of-our-ambition-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/barack-obama-17_ambition_while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-re_2863193.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While we may not live to see the full realization of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing…” — 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": "While we may not live to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-realization-of-our-ambition-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/while-we-may-not-live-to-see-the-full-realization-of-our-ambition-we/#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 } } ] } ```