--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Quite simply, quite plainly, just by…" description: "\"Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.\" — John Ridley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_1020816.jpg" --- # Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being… ![“Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.” quote by John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_1020816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_1020816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/john-ridley-4100_america_quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtu_1020816.jpg) > “Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, 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. Obama embodies the ideals of America, making him a symbolic true American leader. **In simple terms:** Obama represents American ideals. Key Takeaway Recognize symbolic leadership. Themes identity politics representation Mood reflective proud Type political philosophical When to use this quote - election analysis - civic education - media commentary Key Concepts nationalism symbolic leadership Questions to Reflect On - What does being “American” truly mean? - Can symbolism replace policy? A Different Perspective Symbolic representation can oversimplify complex identities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack 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-barack-obama/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Why do we cling to bigotry? Because bigotry, plainly, is convenient. It is a near-effortless way to both elevate one's stature and make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/why-do-we-cling-to-bigotry-because-bigotry-plainly-is-convenient-it/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I learned something then. And I believe it still. There is a value in taking a stand, whether or not anybody may be noticing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-heinz/i-learned-something-then-and-i-believe-it-still-there-is-a-value-in/) [Teresa Heinz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-heinz/) > [We have a great dream. 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/) > [Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack 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-barack-obama/) [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. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Obama is America. 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