15 of Michelle Obama’s most inspiring quotes about work, marriage and motherhood

With job titles like former first lady, lawyer and now author listed on her ever-expanding CV, Michelle Obama is someone that we can learn a thing or two from. The Princeton-educated powerhouse, who has consistently championed the education of girls and advocated for America’s poverty-stricken families, became a role model for many throughout her eight years in the White House. Doing it all “with grace and with grit and with style”, according to her husband Barack, the 44th President of the United States.

Among her many achievements, the “mom-in-chief” has been responsible for the Reach Higher Initiative, helping to inspire young Americans to stay in school for longer, and her recent launch of the Global Girls Alliance, a programme supporting 1,500 grassroots girls-education groups across the world.

Another project, Obama’s memoir, “Becoming,” hit shelves last month and fast became a bestseller. So, clearly the former first lady has still got a lot of wisdom left to impart to us. Ahead of her Southbank Centre appearance tonight, let’s revel in her wise words…

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It seems like yesterday that @barackobama and I were taking our girls to @57thstreetbooks store. Today, I was there with a book of my own. Thanks to everyone who braved the cold and stopped by. #IAmBecoming

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Nov 13, 2018 at 3:50pm PST

On recognising your own strength

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”

On the importance of fun in a marriage

“In our house we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage.”

On striving for your goals

“Let us not forget: I didn’t just wake up First Lady… I mean, I went to law school, I practised law, I worked for the city, I ran a nonprofit (and) I was an executive at a hospital. I’ve been in the world. I’ve worked in every sector, and you don’t do that without coming up against some stuff.

“You know, having your feelings hurt, having people say things about you that aren’t true… Life hits you, so over the course of living, you learn how to protect yourself in it. You learn to take in what you need and get rid of the stuff that’s clearly not true.”

On being a mum

“My most important title is “mom-in-chief”. My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the centre of my world.”

On having real-life role models

“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.”

On knowing your worth

“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”

On holding the door open for others

“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.”

On working motherhood

“For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.”

On the true meaning of success

“Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you. We realised that being successful isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being inspired. That’s what it means to be true to yourself.”

On double standards

“When a father puts in long hours at work, he’s praised for being dedicated and ambitious. But when a mother stays late at the office, she’s sometimes accused of being selfish, neglecting her kids.”

On being driven by hope, not fear

“I want our young people to know that they matter, that they belong. So don’t be afraid. You hear me, young people? Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered. Empower yourself with a good education. Then get out there and use that education to build a country worthy of your boundless promise. Lead by example with hope; never fear.”

On lessons in unexpected places

“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.”

On shaking things up

“I think if we want our daughters to dream bigger than we did, then we have more work to do…So many of us have gotten ourselves at the table, but we’re still too grateful to be at the table to really shake it up. And that’s not a criticism, because for so many just getting to the table was so hard, right? So you’re just holding on!”

On decision-making

“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.”

On starting small, dreaming big

“Thinking of changing your workplace, changing the way the world thinks, that’s big and it gets daunting and then you shrink from that..So start with what you can control. And that’s you first.”