Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn't matter what it is ... We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result.

I would say of all the things that have happened during the course of my presidency the knowledge that you have hundreds of thousands of people who have been killed, millions who have been displaced, [makes me] ask myself what might I have done differently along the course of the last five, six years.

We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America - a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America - that values the service of every patriot.

Iran is biggest strategic beneficiary of invasion of Iraq.

What's good for America better damn well be good for General Motors.

What has made America the wealthiest, most successful country on Earth historically has been our commitment to education.

Progress in the most impoverished parts of our world enriches us all.