I think we would have made a lot more mistakes and would have accomplished a lot less had we not been grounded in some basic truths.

In a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people. Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country alarmed at one common danger came forth to meet it.

National legislation will prevent other states' flawed concealed-weapons laws from threatening the safety of Illinois residents.

I think that we've had an economy that's been out of balance for too long. So the general principle of raising taxes on higher income Americans, like myself, and providing relief to those who haven't benefited as much from this new global economy, I think is a sound one.

That is the nature of democracy. It is hard. It is not always inspiring.

My administration doesn’t have any secrets, and from now on, neither will you.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.