Quotes

“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

“Exercise is really important to me - it's therapeutic. So if I'm ever feeling tense or stressed or like I'm about to have a meltdown, I'll put on my iPod and head to the gym or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls.” Michelle Obama

“I am so tired of fear. And I don't want my girls to live in a country, in a world, based on fear.” Michelle Obama

“I know what it feels like to struggle to get the education that you need.” Michelle Obama

“I've seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are.” Michelle Obama

“It wasn't so long ago that I was a working mom myself. And I know that sometimes, much as we all hate to admit it, it's just easier to park the kids in front of the TV for a few hours, so we can pay the bills or do the laundry or just have some peace and quiet for a change.” Michelle Obama

“Sometimes, it's just easier to say yes to that extra snack or dessert, because frankly, it is exhausting to keep saying no. It's exhausting to plead with our kids to eat just one more bite of vegetables.” Michelle Obama

“We're all bombarded with so many dietary messages that it's hard to find time to sort through all this information, but we do have time to take a look at our kids' plates.” Michelle Obama

“Another suggestion is to cook a meal, maybe not every night, but a couple more times a week than you usually do. That way you have leftovers, and you take your lunch to work.” Michelle Obama

“Clearly this is a tough economic time, and a lot of families are hurting. So when we talk to parents, we talk about small changes for kids and things that don't cost extra money. Like adding water and eliminating sugary drinks and sodas. That's going to save money right there. Or adding a few more vegetables.” Michelle Obama

“Fortunately, we have help from the media. I have to say this: I'm very grateful for the support and kindness that we've gotten. People have respected their privacy and in that way, I think, you know, no matter what people may feel about my husband's policies or what have you, they care about children and that's been good to see.” Michelle Obama

“I am desperate for change - now - not in 8 years or 12 years, but right now.” Michelle Obama

“I hate fund-raising. Haaaaate it. Hate, hate it.” Michelle Obama

“I have a very eclectic iPod. So I've got my cardio people - so it's anything from Beyonce to some Jay-Z to Janelle Monae, her song 'Tightrope,' that's a good cardio song. And then I've got Sting. I've got Mary J. Blige. I've got The Beatles. I've got Michael Jackson. I try to pick the songs that I personally love.” Michelle Obama

“I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard - especially when it's hard.” Michelle Obama

“I think that people are tired. They're tired of the same old kind of politics. People want a new tone to politics.” Michelle Obama

“I'm not asking any of you to make drastic changes to every single one of your recipes or to totally change the way you do business. But what I am asking is that you consider reformulating your menu in pragmatic and incremental ways to create healthier versions of the foods that we all love.” Michelle Obama

“I've seen how the issues that come across a president's desk are always the hard ones - the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer.” Michelle Obama

“If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you that.” Michelle Obama

“Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much. They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did... in fact, they admired it.” Michelle Obama

“My first job in all honesty is going to continue to be mom-in-chief. Making sure that in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls... that they are settled and that they know they will continue to be the center of our universe.” Michelle Obama

“Oh, I can't play soccer, and I'm not a great swimmer. I won't drown, but you won't see me doing laps in a pool.” Michelle Obama

“People want to feel hopeful.” Michelle Obama

“So we know that it's not enough for us to simply encourage more people to study abroad. We also need to make sure that they can actually afford it.” Michelle Obama

“The problem is when that fun stuff becomes the habit. And I think that's what's happened in our culture. Fast food has become the everyday meal.” Michelle Obama

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

“Together, we can help make sure that every family that walks into a restaurant can make an easy, healthy choice.” Michelle Obama

“Ultimately this issue is on us. We're the ones who make the decisions about what our kids eat.” Michelle Obama

“We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own 'to do' list.” Michelle Obama

“Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.” Joel Osteen