#ali

Life and people are complex. A writer as an artist doesn't have the personality of a politician. We don't see the world that simply. ↗

— Joyce Carol Oates

#complex #life #people #personality #politician

When people say there is too much violence in my books, what they are saying is there is too much reality in life. ↗

— Joyce Carol Oates

#life #much #people #people say #reality

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. ↗

— Barack Obama

#asks #because #buck #certain #focusing

We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential. ↗

— Barack Obama

#ambition #cars #clear #clothes #drive

Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did. I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. We have. We've blunted the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, and in 2014, our longest war will be over. A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al Qaeda is on the path to defeat, and Osama bin Laden is dead. ↗

— Barack Obama

#actually #afghanistan #ago #al #attacked

I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions. ↗

— Barack Obama

#actions #around #best #best intentions #country

With patient and firm determination, I am going to press on for jobs. I'm going to press on for equality. I'm going to press on for the sake of our children. I'm going to press on for the sake of all those families who are struggling right now. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I am going to press on. ↗

— Barack Obama

#children #complain #determination #equality #families

We want everybody to act like adults, quit playing games, realize that it's not just my way or the highway. ↗

— Barack Obama

#everybody #games #highway #just #like

We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent. ↗

— Barack Obama

#excellent #folks #idea #internalize #lot

We can make a commitment to promote vegetables and fruits and whole grains on every part of every menu. We can make portion sizes smaller and emphasize quality over quantity. And we can help create a culture - imagine this - where our kids ask for healthy options instead of resisting them. ↗

— Michelle Obama

#ask #commitment #create #culture #emphasize