Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says 'we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best. 'Spare me the grim litany of the 'realist;' give me the unrealistic aspirations of the optimist any day.

Don't let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn't go with it.

If you are black, if you are Puerto Rican or Hispanic, be proud of that. But don't let it become a problem. Let it become somebody else's problem.

I'm going to be bringing people into the public diplomacy function of the department who are going to change from just selling us in the old USIA way to really branding foreign policy, branding the department, marketing the department, marketing American values to the world and not just putting out pamphlets.

How often have we seen politicians take a principle position only to give it up three days later? That is what makes democracy so fascinating.

Great leaders are those who are able to look reality in the face, however painful it may be, and deal with it.

None of us can change our yesterdays but all of us can change our tomorrows.