--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Quite simply, quite plainly, just by…" description: "\"Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.\" — John Ridley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_355512.jpg" --- # Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being… ![“Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.” quote by John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_355512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_355512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_355512.jpg) > “Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.” [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He frames Obama as embodying the American ideal, the first true American leader. **In simple terms:** Obama as the true American. Key Takeaway Recognize inclusive leadership. Themes identity politics representation Mood inspirational critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - political campaigns - citizen engagement - educational curricula Key Concepts nationalism leadership symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What defines a “true American”? - How does representation affect national identity? A Different Perspective Some may argue the claim overlooks diverse histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtue-of-his-being-obama-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Why do we cling to bigotry? Because bigotry, plainly, is convenient. 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It started way back in 1776, and God grant that America will be true to her dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-have-a-great-dream-it-started-way-back-in-1776-and-god-grant-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [When I stand up here, and I'm fighting for your rights and the rights of all people in these United States of America, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/when-i-stand-up-here-and-i-m-fighting-for-your-rights-and-the-rights/) [Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/) > [“When we let "RACE" to become the narrative in everything we do, then we'll never have an "America" of its true quality, that, "all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-johnson-jr/when-we-let-race-to-become-the-narrative-in-everything-we-do-then-we/) [Henry Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-johnson-jr/) > [“The American Dream is a constant reminder that America's true nature and distinctive grandeur is in promising the common man, thr man on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-jillson/the-american-dream-is-a-constant-reminder-that-america-s-true-nature/) [Cal Jillson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-jillson/) > [I can't tell you what it's like to be in Europe, for example, to be talking about the greatness of America. But the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-can-t-tell-you-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-europe-for-example-to-be/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [America’s true power lies not in its will to dominate but in its ability to inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/america-s-true-power-lies-not-in-its-will-to-dominate-but-in-its/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [ Politicians never live up to all the hopes that we invest in them but I think he \[Barack Obama\] has made America a different… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullilove/politicians-never-live-up-to-all-the-hopes-that-we-invest-in-them-but/) Michael Fullilove > [Thanks to Barack Obama, America is for the first time aligning its values with those of 'the majority of the world's population.' If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/thanks-to-barack-obama-america-is-for-the-first-time-aligning-its/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Obama can show that America's promise of equality not only means that anyone can reach the highest office in the land - it also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/obama-can-show-that-america-s-promise-of-equality-not-only-means-that/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [“His uncles adhered to those ancient rules of southern living, for they understood how easily a colored man’s general comportment could turn into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/attica-locke/his-uncles-adhered-to-those-ancient-rules-of-southern-living-for-they/) [Attica Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/attica-locke/) > [With President Obama, we will move America forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/with-president-obama-we-will-move-america-forward/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Contrary to the belief that Obama is America's Lightworker who can defy political gravity, H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/contrary-to-the-belief-that-obama-is-america-s-lightworker-who-can/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) ## More by John Ridley > [The hypocrisy and false piety of the deniers aside, the relationships of gays have no effect on heteros. Especially all the heteros who've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/the-hypocrisy-and-false-piety-of-the-deniers-aside-the-relationships/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [While most trudge through their days straight-jacketed in the social compact, living for others as much as or more than for themselves, a select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/while-most-trudge-through-their-days-straight-jacketed-in-the-social/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Why is it that the very people who have fought so hard and so long for the simple entitlement to love whom they choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/why-is-it-that-the-very-people-who-have-fought-so-hard-and-so-long/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [There are any number of very hard working people in Hollywood who deserve recognition. Mostly its the artisans and crafts persons - the 'below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/there-are-any-number-of-very-hard-working-people-in-hollywood-who/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/for-children-diversity-needs-to-be-real-and-not-merely-relegated-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Just mention the idea of warrantless wiretaps and expect to get hit up with a congressional investigation. But give somebody an avatar and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/just-mention-the-idea-of-warrantless-wiretaps-and-expect-to-get-hit/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [As long as we remain committed to holding high our individuals of supreme finish, others will be inspired to loose themselves of the gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-long-as-we-remain-committed-to-holding-high-our-individuals-of/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [When people come in the door and they have something, discovering and exploring the character is a real joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/when-people-come-in-the-door-and-they-have-something-discovering-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Fact is, awards shows were never really about recognizing achievement. They were a publicity ploy cooked up in the late 1920s by MGM topper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/fact-is-awards-shows-were-never-really-about-recognizing-achievement/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I love graphic novels - I love reading them, I enjoyed writing them, I would love to go back and do them again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-love-graphic-novels-i-love-reading-them-i-enjoyed-writing-them-i/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [So, is Hollywood anti-religion? Not in my opinion. But unlike, say, politicians and preachers who talk faith before going off to speak in tongues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/so-is-hollywood-anti-religion-not-in-my-opinion-but-unlike-say/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I didn't know I was a good director, and I mean that sincerely. I had done a film a long time ago called 'Cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-didn-t-know-i-was-a-good-director-and-i-mean-that-sincerely-i-had/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I still have my first 'Black Lightning' that I got way back in the day, and my first 'Steel.' And I proudly display those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-that-i-got-way-back-in-the-day/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Explore all 116 John Ridley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [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/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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