"When times are tough, constant conflict may be good politics but in the real world, cooperation works better. After all, nobody's right all the time, and a broken clock is right twice a day."

"A lot of presidential memoirs, they say, are dull and self-serving. I hope mine is interesting and self-serving."

"When times are tough and people are frustrated and angry and hurting and uncertain, the politics of constant conflict may be good, but what is good politics does not necessarily work in the real world. What works in the real world is cooperation."

"President Obama has offered a plan with 4 trillion dollars in debt reduction over a decade, with two and a half dollars of spending reductions for every one dollar of revenue increases, and tight controls on future spending. It's the kind of balanced approach proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission."

"The awakening of the people of China to the possibilities under free government is the most significant, if not the most momentous, event of our generation."

"He who conquers his inner doubts has already won half the war. Reflect upon this whenever doubt clouds your horizon — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"He who seeks peace must remember that the melody of life is composed of both highs and lows."

"Well, purity - there's no purity in politics."