Quotes from Michelle Obama

My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'blackness' than ever before. I have found that at Princeton, no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my white professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong.

We need an adult in the White House. When making life-or-death, war-or-peace decisions, a president can't just pop off or lash out irrationally.

I've said this time and again: My greatest concern coming into the White House was making sure my girls came out whole and normal, and decent and kind, just like I would expect them to if we were living on the South Side of Chicago. And it takes work to keep White House life normal for the kids.

I worked with Congress on legislation, gave speeches to CEOs, military generals and Hollywood executives. But I also worked to ensure that my efforts would resonate with kids and families - and that meant doing things in a creative and unconventional way. So, yeah, I planted a garden and hula-hooped on the White House lawn with kids.

When you're not engaged in the day-to-day struggles that everybody feels, you slowly start losing touch. And I think it's important for the people in the White House to have a finger on the pulse.

It was clear to me that if I could get through Princeton at the top of my class, I could do anything in the world.

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.

For so many people, television and movies may be the only way they understand people who aren't like them.

Let me tell you something: for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country, because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.

I say this everywhere I go: I admire and respect Hillary. She has been a lawyer, a law professor, First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State.

I always say that women should wear whatever makes them feel good about themselves. That's what I always try to do.

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.

We can make a commitment to promote vegetables and fruits and whole grains on every part of every menu. We can make portion sizes smaller and emphasize quality over quantity. And we can help create a culture - imagine this - where our kids ask for healthy options instead of resisting them.

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

Be passionate about something and lean to that strength.

Success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.

Success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.

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

Childhood obesity issue is critically important to me because it's critically important to the health and success of our kids, and of this nation, ultimately.

Barack didn't pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he delivered.

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

I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. Because it's important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power.

I'm a fry lover.

Find people who will make you better.