56 Michelle Obama Quotes on Success (BECOMING)

Top 15 Most Famous Michelle Obama Quotes (WORK HARD)

“We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make… that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.”
Michelle Obama

There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.

Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude. — Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your **success** will be determined by your own **confidence** and **fortitude**.

When I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am. — When I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.

I've seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are. — I’ve seen firsthand that being president doesn’t **change** who you are. It reveals who you are.

Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?

“And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond; that you do what you say you’re going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them.”
Michelle Obama

Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own... — Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own…

If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.

You cannot take your freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms… — You cannot take your **freedoms** for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms…

Strong men, men who are truly role models, don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful.

Failure is a feeling long before it’s an actual result. It’s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by fear. — Failure is a feeling long before it’s an actual result. It’s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by **fear**.

When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high.

I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values, and follow my own moral compass, then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own.

“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”
Michelle Obama

18 Inspirational Michelle Obama Quotes About Life (SUCCESS)

“We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules… and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.”
Michelle Obama

Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own. — **Success** is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.

History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own. — History has shown us that **courage** can be contagious and **hope** can take on a life of its own.

If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you that. — If my **future** were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn’t be here. I guarantee you that.

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.

Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t. — Don’t ever make decisions based on **fear**. Make decisions based on **hope** and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t.

“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”
Michelle Obama

Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you. Let them make you even hungrier to succeed. — Instead of letting your **hardships** and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you. Let them make you even hungrier to succeed.

Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you. We realized that being successful isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being inspired. — **Success** isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you. We realized that being successful isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being inspired.

Success isn't about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives. — **Success** isn’t about how much **money** you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.

“When you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”
Michelle Obama

It was one thing to get yourself out of a stuck place, I realized. It was another thing entirely to try and get the place itself unstuck.

If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's the power of using your voice… — If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of using your voice…

There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. — There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.

Failure is an important part of your growth and developing resilience. Don’t be afraid to fail. — Failure is an important part of your **growth** and developing **resilience**. Don’t be afraid to fail.

The lesson being that in life you control what you can.

At fifty-four, I am still in progress, and I hope that I always will be.

“At the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as president, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.”
Michelle Obama

23 Michelle Obama Quotes on Equality and Love (WOMEN EMPOWERMENT)

“We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean… and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.”
Michelle Obama

The difference between a broken community and a thriving one is the presence of women who are valued.

No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens.

When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous. — When girls are **educated**, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.

Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down. And trust your instincts… good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don't hurt. — Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down. And trust your instincts… good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don’t hurt.

I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them.

I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.

No matter what, you give everybody a fair shake, and when somebody needs a hand, you offer yours.

“When I get up and work out, I’m working out just as much for my girls as I am for me, because I want them to see a mother who loves them dearly, who invests in them, but who also invests in herself. It’s just as much about letting them know as young women that it is okay to put yourself a little higher on your priority list.”
Michelle Obama

We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own 'to do' list. — We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.

Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses… swapped back and forth and over again. — **Friendships** between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small **kindnesses**… swapped back and forth and over again.

Time, as far as my father was concerned, was a gift you gave to other people. — **Time**, as far as my father was concerned, was a gift you gave to other people.

When somebody walks up to me, don't look around, don't look beyond them. Look them in the eye, take in the story... — When somebody walks up to me, don’t look around, don’t look beyond them. Look them in the eye, take in the story…

Every day, you have the power to choose our better history — by opening your hearts and minds, by speaking up for what you know is right.

That whole 'so you can have it all.' Nope, not at the same time. That's a lie. And it's not always enough to lean in, because that s*it doesn't work all the time. — That whole ‘so you can have it all.’ Nope, not at the same time. That’s a lie. And it’s not always enough to lean in, because that s*it doesn’t work all the time.

“Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.”
Michelle Obama

We have to find a way to continue to lift other women up in our worlds and in our lives as much as possible.

With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents, are their most important role models. — With every word we utter, with every **action** we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents, are their most important role models.

My most important title is 'mom-in-chief.' My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the centre of my world. — My most important title is ‘mom-in-chief.’ My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the centre of my world.

We were planting seeds of change, the fruit of which we might never see. We had to be patient. — We were planting seeds of **change**, the fruit of which we might never see. We had to be patient.

“You have to fill your bucket with positive energy—and if you have people hanging around you that are bringing you down and not lifting you up, whether that’s your ‘boo’ or your best friend—you have to learn how to push these people to the side.”
Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama Short Biography

Born on 17 January 1964 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Michelle Obama is a lawyer and the first African American first lady.

Obama graduated from Princeton University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and African American studies. In 1988, she graduated from Harvard Law School.

She founded and then became the executive director (1996) of the Public Allies’ Chicago branch. In 2005, Obama became the vice president of community and external affairs of the University of Chicago Medical Center.

When her husband, Barack Obama, announced that he would be running for President in 2008, Michelle took a prominent role in his campaign. Barack eventually ended up winning and was inaugurated in 2009.

During her time as first lady Obama supported multiple causes. One she was most famous for was her campaign on ending childhood obesity.

In 2018 she released a book entitled Becoming, which became the best-selling book of 2018. In 2020, Obama released a documentary of the same name to Netflix.

Further Reading:

Michelle Obama Is on the 2019 TIME 100 List – TIME
Michelle Obama: Former US first lady says she has ‘low-grade depression’ – BBC News
‘Superstar’ Michelle Obama To Play Pivotal Role in Biden’s Campaign as Election Looms – Express
10 Ways Michelle Obama Promoted Physical and Mental Health as First Lady – Forbes

Here are the best Michelle Obama quotes so you can strive further in life by learning how to overcome your fears.

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Also read:

Top 15 Most Famous Michelle Obama Quotes (WORK HARD)

18 Inspirational Michelle Obama Quotes About Life (SUCCESS)

23 Michelle Obama Quotes on Equality and Love (WOMEN EMPOWERMENT)

Michelle Obama Short Biography

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