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About this quote

What does it mean?
Obama urges citizens to take responsibility for creating change rather than waiting for others.
In plain terms
The change we seek depends on us acting now.
What can you take from it?
Civic change requires individual initiative.

Where it applies

  • social movements
  • personal growth
  • voting

Putting it to work

  • volunteering
  • taking civic action

Questions to consider

  • What actions define true citizenship?
  • How do you take initiative in your community?

Another view

Individual action alone is often insufficient without systemic support.

More from Barack Obama

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  2. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected.

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  3. We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We've been asked to pause for a re…

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