You've heard that old expression from Shakespeare, 'Just speak the speech'? The words themselves will take you to the reality of the character. And so this led me to interview people.

Confidence is the mark of a hopeful disposition.

Listening is not just hearing what someone tells you word for word. You have to listen with a heart. I don't want that to sound touchy-feely; it is not. It is very hard work.

People realize that we're very good at sending people to war, but we're not good at taking care of them. And people are coming back from war now; years ago, they would have been killed, now they're wounded; and they're coming back alive and with post-traumatic stress. So, I think Americans are sensible enough to know we've got to figure out a way to take care of them.

I think we need leadership that helps us remember that part of what we are about is caring about more than the person right next to us, but the folks across the way.

If you say a word often enough it becomes you.

We spend so much time bantering about the words when the real open conversations might very well be our actions. I worry about our rhetoric.