"I know that war is very cruel and that life is harder when you aren't able to live in the place you called home."

"I was a little girl in World War II and I'm used to being freed by Americans."

"While democracy in the long run is the most stable form of government, in the short run, it is among the most fragile."

"No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground."

"We all seek approval, and our mother's seal is usually the most important. The nitty gritty is that we have to accept ourselves, even if it is just to be ready for the next cut-down. Mom's blessing or not."

"I come from a line of self-motivated, determined folk - not grand, not high society, but no-nonsense, family-minded go-getters."

"Even very young children need to be informed about dying. Explain the concept of death very carefully to your child. This will make threatening him with it much more effective."

"You may feel powerless as a child, but the world will one day be yours. And you're responsible for it. So, seize the day and take charge of it."