10 Barack Obama Quotes on Hard Work, Success, Motivation and MoreThere's much to be learned from the former U.S. President.

ByRose LeademOriginally published

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

James Devaney | Getty Images
Barack Obama

There's much to be learned fromBarack Obama, the 44thpresident of the United States. As America's first black president, Obama's presidential victory changed the world we live in -- and marked a major day in history.

From 2009 to 2017, Obama was the leader of our country. But he is also a Columbia University grad, Harvard law grad, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, an influential attorney and a state and U.S. senator. Obama's achievements are nothing short of amazing.

Related:10 Thomas Edison Quotes to Inspire and Motivate You

It's easy to say that the former president knows a thing or two about success, leadership, motivation and hard work.

Become inspired by these 10 quotes from Obama.

On change

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some time. We are the ones we've been waiting for." -- Barack Obama

On perseverance

"Nothing in life that's worth anything is easy." -- Barack Obama

On the future

"We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it." -- Barack Obama

Related:11 Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Motivation, Mindset, Productivity and More

On motivation

"Progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always smooth path." -- Barack Obama

On empowerment

"The cynics may be the loudest voices -- but I promise you, they will accomplish the least." -- Barack Obama

On leadership

"One voice can change a room." -- Barack Obama

Related:10 Sheryl Sandberg Quotes to Motivate and Inspire You

On collaboration

"We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort." -- Barack Obama

On mindset

"We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent." -- Barack Obama

On hard work

"If you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like or who you love." -- Barack Obama

Related:These 11 Steve Jobs Quotes Will Motivate You to Change the World

On failure

"Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment and it comes with plenty of failure along the way." -- Barack Obama

Wavy Line
Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Business Process

The Strategy You Need to Make Sure Your Company Can Keep Up in Today's Business World

Discover a superior alternative to a traditional business strategy that prioritizes adaptability, innovation and speed in execution, explores its benefits for entrepreneurs, see real-world scenarios and learn core principles and rules to propel organizations forward with clarity, simplicity and action.

Thought Leaders

I Pitched 300 People a Day For 1 Year — and Learned This Impactful Entrepreneurial Lesson

After working myself to the bone pitching 300 people each day for one year, I came out of that experience as a new man — but surprisingly, an unhappier one. Here's what I learned.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

你不能找出哪些企业寿鹿吗ld launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.

Growing a Business

3 Solutions That Help Alleviate Everyday Pressures Small Business Owners Face

We live in a world with increasing pressures from stakeholders, constantly changing customer expectations and volatile financial conditions — which for many, especially business owners — can make it hard to create clear distinctions between professional and personal emotions.