I'm a terrible long-term planner.

We are at war, and our security as a nation depends on winning that war.

We [USA] need to deal with our problems here at home if we're going to be strong enough to lead abroad.

I know that people look at my life and ask, "How can I achieve some of those things?" So, I suppose in that sense, yes, I'm a role model. But I try to think of myself more as a mentor, as somebody who I hope young people feel comfortable approaching or writing to.

You might not be able to control your circumstances but you can control your response to your circumstances.

But the truth of the matter is, we're an open society, we want to remain an open society, and there will continue to be vulnerability. That's why we have to meet the threats when they are not yet taking place on our territory and on our soil.

it is a longstanding principle that sitting national security advisers do not testify before the Congress.