Barack Obama's 2009 Inaugural Address: Faith Quotes
How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph.Sentence)
Quote #1
At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears and true to our founding documents. (3.4)
Obama's idea of faith goes beyond religion. In this speech, faith includes trusting in America's oldest political institutions. You could say the speech strikes a balance between secular "faith" and religious faith.
Quote #2
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works—whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. (14.1)
At a time when Americans were doubting the government (Congress and the outgoing president had abysmally low approval ratings), Obama challenges Americans to believe in the ability of the government to do good, regardless of its size. Since many Americans felt like the system was broken, this was an important message to drive home. Obama believes in the system's potential to help the American people.
Quote #3
For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. (26.3)
Might this be a sort of shout-out to the conservative ideals of self-reliance and individual determination? Either way, Obama suggests that the government definitely needs to work, but it definitely can't work without Americans' faith and grit. Kind of like Oreos and a glass of milk: you can't have one without the other.
Quote #4
This is the source of our confidence—the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall. (29.3)
Oh, hey, it's God again. Obama goes very old school here with rhetoric that evokes the idea that America is inherently special, perhaps courtesy of the big guy upstairs. But he only takes this old-school trope so far, and instead of going full 1840s Manifest Destiny, Obama takes a decidedly modern tack, again referencing America's religious diversity as a major strength. And did we mention there's a big party on the National Mall right now? People of all genders, ages, races, and faiths are welcome.
Quote #5
Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. (32.3)
This is Obama's whole speech in one sentence. He encourages average people, maybe people who have lost their jobs or homes, to have faith that God wants America to succeed. Even when it looks like times are tough, he says, the American people need to look forward, so that future generations can experience the awesome stuff about America.