Confidence is the mark of a hopeful disposition.

I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators "the haute couture of language."

I never know when somebody's going to knock on the door of my own unconscious in a way that I wouldn't have anticipated.

I am interested in personal stories because that's when people become expressive, spontaneous and heartfelt.

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 what I am is a "convener"; I like to convene people around ideas.

I mean, I think a healthy country is a country where people are healthy physically, and a smart country is a country where people are educated.