---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barack Obama has talked a lot about…"
description: "\"Barack Obama has talked a lot about changing the way America relates to the world, and few areas are as ripe for reform as our policies on foreign aid...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png"
---

#  Barack Obama has talked a lot about changing the way…

![“Barack Obama has talked a lot about changing the way America relates to the world, and few areas are as ripe for reform as our policies on foreign aid.” quote by Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png)

> “Barack Obama has talked a lot about changing the way America relates to the world, and few areas are as ripe for reform as our policies on foreign aid.”

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights the need to rethink U.S. foreign aid, seeing it as a major area for policy change and improvement.

**In simple terms:** U.S. foreign aid needs major reform.

Key Takeaway

Consider how aid can be more effective.

Themes

policy reform foreign aid America global relations

Mood

thoughtful critical optimistic

Type

analytical policy inspirational

When to use this quote

- government policy review
- NGO strategy sessions
- academic research
- public debate

Key Concepts

development economics strategic diplomacy aid effectiveness

Questions to Reflect On

- What obstacles hinder aid reform?
- How can reforms balance national interests and global good?

A Different Perspective

Reforming aid is complex and may face political resistance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Foreign aid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-aid/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Taiwan gives a lot of foreign aid to Costa Rica, so it looks like they are basically buying the right to fish, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/taiwan-gives-a-lot-of-foreign-aid-to-costa-rica-so-it-looks-like-they/)

[Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/)

> [Science is one of the comparative advantages of our knowledge-based economy, and focusing on our prowess in providing better tools to address diseases of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/science-is-one-of-the-comparative-advantages-of-our-knowledge-based/)

[Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/)

> [For American foreign aid to become more effective, it must embrace the power of partnerships, access the transformative nature of free enterprise, and leverage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/for-american-foreign-aid-to-become-more-effective-it-must-embrace-the/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [An approach to foreign aid which is fit for the 21st Century is a win for the developing world, and a win for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/an-approach-to-foreign-aid-which-is-fit-for-the-21st-century-is-a-win/)

[Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/)

> [And that's why I wrote the book, because our country really needs to understand, if people in this nation understood what our foreign policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/and-that-s-why-i-wrote-the-book-because-our-country-really-needs-to/)

[John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/)

> [I experienced how foreign aid for large-scale vaccination projects helps to save the life of children and thus give a real input to growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-gahr-store/i-experienced-how-foreign-aid-for-large-scale-vaccination-projects/)

[Jonas Gahr Store](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-gahr-store/)

> [I'm the ranking Republican on the foreign aid appropriations subcommittee, so I know Tunisia well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-m-the-ranking-republican-on-the-foreign-aid-appropriations/)

[Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/)

> [Many critics of the Palestinians, especially those in Congress, think the current calm is merely the eye of the storm. That's why the House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-fields/many-critics-of-the-palestinians-especially-those-in-congress-think/)

[Suzanne Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-fields/)

> [ “\[Internationa\] Aid is just another praetorian business enterprise.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/internationa-aid-is-just-another-praetorian-business-enterprise/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [Foreign trade is not a replacement for foreign aid, of course, but foreign aid to a country that doesn't also engage in significant amounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/foreign-trade-is-not-a-replacement-for-foreign-aid-of-course-but/)

[Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/)

> [Despite the hundreds of non-governmental organizations and the continued outpouring of foreign aid, East Africa remains as a region overwhelmed by extreme poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/despite-the-hundreds-of-non-governmental-organizations-and-the/)

[Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/)

> [Foreign aid projects have pumped billions of dollars into the Afghan economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/foreign-aid-projects-have-pumped-billions-of-dollars-into-the-afghan/)

[Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/)

> [Congress has shortchanged not only foreign aid but foreign policy. A mistaken notion that diplomats are unimportant and hence undeserving of support grips conservative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/congress-has-shortchanged-not-only-foreign-aid-but-foreign-policy-a/)

[Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/)

> [Foreign aid is not something the vast majority of Americans support, but definitely not conservatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/foreign-aid-is-not-something-the-vast-majority-of-americans-support/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [ He \[Barack Obama\] talked about a crisises and he was blaming the Republicans on this crisises. It's like me blaming my wife for my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/he-barack-obama-talked-about-a-crisises-and-he-was-blaming-the/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## More by Iqbal Quadir

> [Connectivity is productivity - whether it's in a modern office or an underdeveloped village.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/connectivity-is-productivity-whether-it-s-in-a-modern-office-or-an/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [China has an almost infinite need for energy, and frankly, the world would be better off if much of that need goes in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/china-has-an-almost-infinite-need-for-energy-and-frankly-the-world/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [Rich countries have been sending aid to poor countries for the last 60 years. And, by and large, this has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/rich-countries-have-been-sending-aid-to-poor-countries-for-the-last/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [Pakistan is riddled with problems that are rooted in the disproportionate power of the state. Aid has only boosted that power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/pakistan-is-riddled-with-problems-that-are-rooted-in-the/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [Poor countries are poor because they are wasting their resources,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/poor-countries-are-poor-because-they-are-wasting-their-resources/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [In America, people buy cars, and they put very little money down. They get a car, and they go to work. The work pays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/in-america-people-buy-cars-and-they-put-very-little-money-down-they/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [The history of Europe over the last several centuries provides clear evidence of the transformative power of commerce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/the-history-of-europe-over-the-last-several-centuries-provides-clear/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [When leaders are no longer beholden to the people who elected them, corruption results and the recruitment of extremists becomes easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/when-leaders-are-no-longer-beholden-to-the-people-who-elected-them/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [A military or government hierarchy is anathema to the dispersed population and diverse tribes of mountainous Afghanistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/a-military-or-government-hierarchy-is-anathema-to-the-dispersed/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [A lot of technologies in the world were unusual in the beginning, and became standard. That's the beauty of bottom-up entrepreneurship and innovations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/a-lot-of-technologies-in-the-world-were-unusual-in-the-beginning-and/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [The best way poor people can come out of their poverty is to get on the global highway, not on some dirt side road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/the-best-way-poor-people-can-come-out-of-their-poverty-is-to-get-on/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [During the Cold War, the U.S. instituted a policy of sending money to governments in poor countries to buy their political loyalty. While studies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/during-the-cold-war-the-u-s-instituted-a-policy-of-sending-money-to/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [The rapid proliferation of cell phones in Afghanistan proves that anything that adds value to people's lives spreads like brushfire - and commerce is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/the-rapid-proliferation-of-cell-phones-in-afghanistan-proves-that/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [We should encourage governments to be sustained by citizens' taxes - that is, democracies. Democracies will be enduring allies of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/we-should-encourage-governments-to-be-sustained-by-citizens-taxes/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

> [Top-down approaches do not work. The bottleneck is at the top of the bottle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/top-down-approaches-do-not-work-the-bottleneck-is-at-the-top-of-the/)

[Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

[Explore all 18 Iqbal Quadir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Barack Obama has talked a lot about changing the way America relates to the world, and few areas are as ripe for reform as our policies on foreign aid.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Iqbal Quadir"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-changing-the-way-america-relates/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-changing-the-way-america-relates/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/iqbal-quadir-29887_about_barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-chan_2080406.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Barack Obama has talked a lot about changing the way America relates to the world, and few areas are as ripe…” — Iqbal Quadir",
                "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": "Iqbal Quadir",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Barack Obama has talked a lot...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-changing-the-way-america-relates/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/barack-obama-has-talked-a-lot-about-changing-the-way-america-relates/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
