"In a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power - including strong and principled diplomacy."

"The pursuit of excellence requires knowing that the true master is an eternal student."

"Beauty in art is the harmony of spirit, intellect, and craft. In this truth lies the bedrock of all virtue — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The Bush Administration's failure to be consistently involved in helping Israel achieve peace with the Palestinians has been both wrong for our friendship with Israel, as well as badly damaging to our standing in the Arab world."

"There are really three parts to the creative process. First there is inspiration, then there is the execution, and finally there is the release."

"Every spiritual tradition has this idea of death and resurrection. It's not unique to Christianity."

"To deny women directors, as I suspect is happening in the States, is to deny the feminine vision."

"To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company."