Every president who has tried to bring about big changes I think elicits the most passionate responses.

It betrays a poverty of ambition if all you think about is what goods you can buy instead of what good you can do.

No other country in the world does what we do. On every issue, the world turns to us, not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might - but because of the ideals we stand for, and the burdens we bear to advance them.

Sometimes when these kinds of things happen, it can seem a little bit too much to bear. But what I want the people of Louisiana know is that you're not alone on this. Even after the TV cameras leave, the whole country is going to continue to support you and help you until we get folks back in their homes and lives are rebuilt.

My finely honed political instincts tell me that almost nobody believes that they should be paying higher taxes.

We've said to the Iranians all along . . . we still remain open to diplomacy. But it's been very clear that the Iranians don't want to engage with us.

The very technologies that empower us to do great good can also be used to undermine us and inflict great harm.