House of Everything Else

Becoming by Michelle Obama — My Favorite Quotes

Jade M. Wong32 Comments

Forget the politics. Forget if you’re red or blue or a different color altogether. Becoming speaks to the part of us beyond that, to the humanity at our core. This is more than a book about a Former First Lady of the United States. This is a book about the inspirational story of a girl who could have been (and could still be) any of us—a girl who grew up not having much, who faltered and second-guessed herself, and who took the long way around to live a remarkable life.

I took my time reading this book, crying when a poignant moment washed over me, pondering the existential questions Michelle asked herself, and re-reading portions that encouraged me to reflect on my own self.

Here are my favorite quotes from Becoming:

  • “Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.” ~ Preface

  • “Even when it’s not pretty or perfect. Even when it’s more real than you want it to be. You story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.” ~ Preface

  • “I tried not to feel intimidated when classroom conversation was dominated by male students, which it often was. Hearing them, I realized that they weren’t at all smarter than the rest of us. They were simply emboldened, floating on an ancient tide of superiority, buoyed by the fact that history had never told them anything different.” pg. 79

  • “Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?” ~ pg. 118

  • “It’s remarkable how a stereotype functions as an actual trap. How many “angry black women” have been caught in the circular logic of that phrase? When you aren’t being listened to, why wouldn’t you get louder? If you’re written off as angry or emotional, doesn’t that just cause more of the same?” ~ pg. 265

  • “I’d been lucky to have parents, teachers, and mentors who’d fed me with a consistent, simple message: You matter. As an adult, I wanted to pass those words to a new generation.” ~ pg. 383

  • “We grow up with messages that tell us that there’s only one way to be American—that if our skin is dark or our hips are wide, if we don’t experience love in a particular way, if we speak another language or come from another country, then we don’t belong. That is, until someone dares to start telling that story differently.” ~ pg. 415

  • “Let’s invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us.” ~ Epilogue

Have you read Becoming? What did you think?

32 thoughts on “Becoming by Michelle Obama — My Favorite Quotes”

  5. Beautifully written. I agree with everything you’ve said. The quotes you picked we’re perfect. I’m still reading it and very much so enjoying the journey. I can relate to Michelle story very much. Its very inspiring and I’m in no rush to finish it. There’s a lot of wisdom in those words and her story. Great post!

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  6. Thank you, Dear Jade for that fabulous post! I love it and the wisdom Michelle shared with us! You are so sweet for putting this together and sharing it with us!! Bellissimo, My Dear, Bellissimo!
    xoxoxo

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  8. Thanks for sharing your thoughts for the book. These quotes are so profound and great as the lady herself. You are right in saying that it is not a political book but a book about your own life lesson and struggles. I will share your post.

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  12. definitely will get this book, wish i had read this sooner when i was in the states. love your selected quotes, she is a strong woman, a book i must read with my girls too. thanks Jade

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