Michelle [Obama] never fully took to the scrutiny. I mean, she's thrived as a first lady, but it's not her preference.

I try never to get too high when things are going well. I try never to get too low when things are going poorly. I try to keep an even keel.

I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.

We may not be able to stop evil in the world, but how we treat one another is entirely up to us.

That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door.

The Tea Party I have huge disagreements with, obviously. But I give them credit for having activated themselves. And they made a difference in terms of moving the Republican Party, in terms of moving the country in a particular direction. It's a direction I disagreed with. But it showed that, in fact, you get involved, if your voice is heard it has an impact.

I think it's useful to keep in mind I've been now President for over seven years and gun sales don't seem to have suffered during that time.