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Quotes by First-lady
"Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry is own weight, this is a frightening prospect."
309
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
282
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence."
107
"Dear God, please take care of your servant John Fitzgerald Kennedy."
91
"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."
87
"I had 3 brothers, 2 died early, and one of them was living a good long time."
86
"I want minimum information given with maximum politeness."
81
"The first time you marry for love, the second for money, and the third for companionship."
81
"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan."
80
"Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both."
79
"And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us - no matter what our age or background or walk of life - each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation."
78
"Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them."
78
"You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through."
78
"You just don't luck into things as much as you'd like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities."
Luck,
77
"I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision."
77
"To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there."
76
"The independent girl is a person before whose wrath only the most rash dare stand, and, they, it must be confessed, with much fear and trembling."
76
"Any committee is only as good as the most knowledgeable, determined and vigorous person on it. There must be somebody who provides the flame."
76
"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction."
76
"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am."
74
"Bias has to be taught. If you hear your parents downgrading women or people of different backgrounds, why, you are going to do that."
74
"You may invite the entire 35th Division to your wedding if you want to. I guess it's going to be yours as well as mine. We might as well have the church full while we are at it."
73
"My first job in all honesty is going to continue to be mom-in-chief. Making sure that in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls... that they are settled and that they know they will continue to be the center of our universe."
73
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.'"
73
"If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities."
72
"We are coming back just four years from today."
72
"Whenever I was upset by something in the papers, Jack always told me to be more tolerant, like a horse flicking away flies in the summer."
72
"Only a man's character is the real criterion of worth."
72
"One thing I can say about George... he may not be able to keep a job, but he's not boring."
71
"You may think the president is all-powerful, but he is not. He needs a lot of guidance from the Lord."
71
"There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home."
71
"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall."
Bed,
70
"Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again."
70
"It is not more vacation we need - it is more vocation."
70
"Don't worry about polls, but if you do, don't admit it."
70
"I think somehow we learn who we really are and then live with that decision."
70
"You don't just luck into things as much as you would like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it is friendships or opportunities."
Luck,
69
"I have sacrificed everything in my life that I consider precious to advance the political career of my husband."
69
"It is done... the precious portrait placed in the hands of the gentlemen for safe keeping."
68
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
68
"Believe in something larger than yourself... get involved in the big ideas of your time."
68
"I am accordingly ready; I have pressed as many Cabinet papers into trunks as to fill one carriage; our private property must be sacrificed, as it is impossible to procure wagons for its transportation."
67
"Too often the great decisions are originated and given form in bodies made up wholly of men, or so completely dominated by them that whatever of special value women have to offer is shunted aside without expression."
67
"You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself."
65
"As a mom, I know it is my responsibility, and no one else's, to raise my kids. But we have to ask ourselves, what does it mean when so many parents are finding their best efforts undermined by an avalanche of advertisements aimed at our kids."
63
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