I always want to be on the cusp of being in the best shape that I can be. Michelle Obama More Quotes by Michelle Obama More Quotes From Michelle Obama We need to fix our souls. Our souls are broken in this nation. We have lost our way. And it begins with inspiration. It begins with leadership. Michelle Obama broken soul inspirational There is nothing more important to this nation's future than investing in our young people. Michelle Obama investing important people My happiness isn't connected to my husband's or my boss's or my children's behavior. You have control over your own actions, your own well-being. Michelle Obama boss husband children I grew up on the south side of Chicago in a working class community. There were no miracles in my life, there's nothing miraculous about how I grew up, and I want people to know when they look at me, to be clear that they see what an investment in public education can look like. Michelle Obama miracle class people My ability to get through my day greatly depends on the relationship that I have with other women...We have to be able to champion other women. We have to root for each other's successes and not delight in one another's failures. Michelle Obama champion delight roots If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion Michelle Obama impact fashion fun No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens. Michelle Obama citizens half country Every day, through engagement in the arts, our children learn to open their imagination, to dream just a little bigger and to strive every day to reach those dreams. Michelle Obama dream children art Women should have the freedom to do whatever they need to do to feel good about themselves. Michelle Obama feel-good should-have needs Your word is your bond, you do what you say you're going to do. Michelle Obama Service is a limitless opportunity, it is the reason why we breathe. Michelle Obama leadership reason-why opportunity In our house we don't take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage. Michelle Obama laughter marriage thinking I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world. Michelle Obama smart cutting class If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire...if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores...if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote...if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time...if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream...and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love...then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream. Michelle Obama badass dream country You all have opportunities and skills and education that so many folks who came before you never could have dreamed of. So just imagine the kind of impact that you're going to make. Imagine how you can inspire those around you to reach higher and complete their own education. Michelle Obama opportunity inspiring graduation I think my mother taught me what not to do. She put us first, always, sometimes to the detriment of herself. She encouraged me not to do that. She'd say being a good mother isn't all about sacrificing; it's really investing and putting yourself higher on your priority list. Michelle Obama sacrifice mother thinking Choose people who lift you up. Michelle Obama lift-you-up inspirational-life people The arts and humanities define who we are as a people. That is their power -- to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common. To help us understand our history and imagine our future. To give us hope in the moments of struggle and to bring us together when nothing else will. Michelle Obama struggle people art I tell this to my girls all the time: This journey we're on is a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity. Michelle Obama girl journey opportunity My dad was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he didn't earn much money. But he was determined to pay whatever tiny part he owed for my tuition on time every month. So even though he had multiple sclerosis and often struggled just to get dressed in the morning, he hardly ever missed a day of work. His determination and love are an inspiration to me every day. Michelle Obama dad determination morning