Hope -- Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us...A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.

A child's course in life should be determined not by the zip code she's born in, but by the strength of her work ethic and the scope of her dreams.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

I have made it a top priority for my administration to deepen cooperation with Israel across the whole spectrum of security issues - intelligence, military, technology.

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.

Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models.

We are not going to be able to rebuild Afghanistan into a Jeffersonian democracy.