In what might be a motto of those who sought the presidency and lost, Ted Kennedy once said, "Frankly, I don't mind not being President. I just mind that someone else is."

The horizon is out there somewhere and you keep chasing it, looking for it and working for it.

Sure, losing an election hurts, but I've experienced worse. And at an age when every day is precious, brooding over what might have been is self-defeating. In conceding the 1996 election, I remarked that "tomorrow will be the first time in my life I don't have anything to do." I was wrong. Seventy-two hours after conceding the election, I was swapping wisecracks with David Letterman on his late-night show.

It's a lot more fun winning. It hurts to lose...

I think one of life's great milestones is when a person can look back and be almost as thankful for the setbacks as for the victories.

We know smoking tobacco is not good for kids, but a lot of other things aren't good. Drinking's not good. Some would say milk's not good.

I had a dream that I would be here this week, receiving something from the president, but I thought it would be the front door key.