In many ways [those middle-aged black ladies] my touchstone, because they are what I meant when I talked about the audacity of hope.

One of the great things about the United States is that when it comes to world affairs, the president obviously is the leader of the Executive Branch, the Commander-in-Chief, the spokesperson for the nation, but the influence and the work that we have is the result not just of the president, it is the result of countless interactions and arrangements and relationships between our military and other militaries, and our diplomats and other diplomats, the intelligence officers and development workers.

It's not appealing to deal with countries that express hatred towards us.

The United States is doing our part by increasing the number of refugees we resettle and I want again to commend Angela [Merkel], and more importantly, the German people for the extraordinary leadership and compassion that you have shown in the face of what I know is a very difficult challenge.

I don't want to jump the gun, [but] I will tell you, though, that my goal is to have the best possible government.

You have social media and the Internet and immigration and so, suddenly, cultures are clashing and people feel as if they're less familiar with the people around them. That causes social anxieties.

What makes you a man is not the ability to make a child, it's the courage to raise one.