To use a basketball metaphor, West Wing cast was a group that liked to pass as much as they liked to shoot.

A friend is somebody who says the same things to your face that they would say if you're not in the room.

Decisions are made by those who show up. Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world.

Make no mistake about it, you are dumb. You’re a group of incredibly well-educated dumb people. I was there. We all were there. You’re barely functional. There are some screw-ups headed your way. I wish I could tell you that there was a trick to avoiding the screw-ups, but the screw-ups, they’re a-coming for ya. It’s a combination of life being unpredictable, and you being super dumb.

Government should be a place where people can come together, and no one gets left behind. No one…gets left behind. An instrument of good.

Well, I must tell you I write the scripts very close to the bone. So I'm writing episode seven now and couldn't tell you what happens in episode eight.

Develop your own compass, and trust it. Take risks, dare to fail, remember the first person through the wall always gets hurt.