What's more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea -- the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny.  That's why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. (...)

We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair. (...) Let's also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child's success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom.  In South Korea, teachers are known as "nation builders."  Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect.  (Applause.)  We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones.

I consider the speech's ending especially inspirational:

Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania, that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology.  And one day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.

But Brandon thought his company could help.  And so he designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B.  His employees worked around the clock to manufacture the necessary drilling equipment.  And Brandon left for Chile.

Along with others, he began drilling a 2,000-foot hole into the ground, working three- or four-hour -- three or four days at a time without any sleep.  Thirty-seven days later, Plan B succeeded, and the miners were rescued.  (Applause.)  But because he didn't want all of the attention, Brandon wasn't there when the miners emerged.  He'd already gone back home, back to work on his next project.

And later, one of his employees said of the rescue, "We proved that Center Rock is a little company, but we do big things."  (Applause.)

We do big things.

From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream.  That's how we win the future.

We're a nation that says, "I might not have a lot of money, but I have this great idea for a new company."  "I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree."  "I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try."  "I'm not sure how we'll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we'll get there.  I know we will."

We do big things.  (Applause.)

The idea of America endures.  Our destiny remains our choice.  And tonight, more than two centuries later, it's because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong.

Chancellor Merkel should give such a speech. You see, I am already dreaming...