In reaffirming
the greatness
of our nation,
we understand
that greatness
is never a given.
It must be earned.
Our journey
has never been
one of shortcuts
or
settling for less.
It has not been
the path
for the fainthearted,
for those who prefer
leisure over work
or
seek only the pleasures
of riches and fame.
Rather,
it has been
the risk takers,
the doers,
the makers of things –
some celebrated,
but more often
men and women
obscure in their labor --
who have carried us up
the long, rugged path
toward
prosperity and freedom.
inaugural address
january 20, 2009
