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Quotes by First-lady
"It is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do."
43
"Not my power, but the power of the position, a power which could be used to help."
42
"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."
42
"Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others."
42
"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be."
42
"Only a man's character is the real criterion of worth."
42
"Old age has deformities enough of its own. It should never add to them the deformity of vice."
42
"When I shall again write to you, or where I shall be tomorrow, I cannot tell."
42
"Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we're scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don't have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own 'to do' list."
41
"And let's be clear: It's not enough just to limit ads for foods that aren't healthy. It's also going to be critical to increase marketing for foods that are healthy."
41
"The realities are that, you know, as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know."
Man,
41
"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people - your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way."
41
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
41
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."
41
"One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility."
40
"If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women."
40
"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."
40
"Well, knowledge is a fine thing, and mother Eve thought so; but she smarted so severely for hers, that most of her daughters have been afraid of it since."
39
"You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don't win, at least you can be satisfied that you've tried. If you don't accept failure as a possibility, you don't set high goals, you don't branch out, you don't try - you don't take the risk."
39
"A little of what you call frippery is very necessary towards looking like the rest of the world."
39
"Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the president's spouse. I wish him well!"
39
"Somehow we learn who we really are and then live with that decision."
39
"A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."
39
"It is one of my sources of happiness never to desire a knowledge of other people's business."
38
"We all need to start making some changes to how our families eat. Now, everyone loves a good Sunday dinner. Me included. And there's nothing wrong with that. The problem is when we eat Sunday dinner Monday through Saturday."
38
"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."
38
"Together, we can help make sure that every family that walks into a restaurant can make an easy, healthy choice."
38
"Cherish your human connections - your relationships with friends and family."
37
"Can anyone understand how it is to have lived in the White House and then, suddenly, to be living alone as the President's widow?"
37
"Exercise is really important to me - it's therapeutic. So if I'm ever feeling tense or stressed or like I'm about to have a meltdown, I'll put on my iPod and head to the gym or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls."
37
"Even if we give parents all the information they need and we improve school meals and build brand new supermarkets on every corner, none of that matters if when families step into a restaurant, they can't make a healthy choice."
37
"One must not let oneself be overwhelmed by sadness."
37
"A woman's place in public is to sit beside her husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight."
37
"So much attention is paid to the aggressive sins, such as violence and cruelty, and greed with all their tragic effects, that too little attention is paid to the passive sins, such as apathy and laziness, which in the long run can have a more devastating and destructive effect upon society than the others."
37
"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give."
37
"I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell this to my children, they just about throw up."
36
"He didn't even have the satisfaction of being killed for civil rights. it had to be some silly little Communist."
36
"I do not believe in abortion at will. I do not believe that if a woman just wants to have an abortion she should... I do believe if you have an abortion you are committing murder."
36
"I begin to think, that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life. Man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe."
36
"I have commenced my auspicious reign and am in quiet possession of the Presidential Mansion... this winter I intend to do something in the way of entertaining that shall be the admiration and talk of all Washington world."
36
"My son, George, has been a bad, bad boy! Right, George?"
36
"My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season."
36
"My makeup wasn't smeared, I wasn't disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?"
35
"I may be the only mother in America who knows exactly what their child is up to all the time."
35
"Do what you can to show you care about other people, and you will make our world a better place."
35
"Hate and force cannot be in just a part of the world without having an effect on the rest of it."
35
"It seems to me I spent my life in car pools, but you know, that's how I kept track of what was going on."
35
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