"To the teacher weighed down with paperwork, I say: you've been messed around too often. You came into teaching to spend your time teaching children not filling in forms."

"At a time of such hope and optimism in the Middle East, we cannot let the Libyan government violate every principle of international law and human rights with impunity."

"Inspiring scenes of people taking the future of their countries into their own hands will ignite greater demands for good governance and political reform elsewhere in the world, including in Asia and in Africa."

"I don't think my principles change. I think the way in which you apply those principles to modern society changes."

"Former President Bill Clinton, who is widely regarded as a political mastermind, may have sounded like a traditional liberal at the beginning of his term in office. But what ultimately defined his presidency was his amazing pliability on matters of principle."

"When I was in the war, I was lucky that I was in a plane and never saw the carnage close-up."

"We are a forward-looking people, and we must have a forward-looking government."

"I am never going to have anything more to do with politics or politicians. When this war is over I shall confine myself entirely to writing and painting."