Every life is worthy and every life is capable of greatness. We have an obligation to make sure that opportunity for greatness is there.

Your friends and your family, if you're close to them, they won't let you get too far from who you were or from who you are. And so I love staying close to people who've always known me. That's probably the best leavening that you could possibly have.

I get letters from kids from all over the country. I always try to answer them because there were people I looked up to in my youth and just wanted to be in contact with. It's also important to realize that you find your role models in a lot of different places. I've never believed that your role models have to look like you. You can find them in all sort of colors, shapes and sizes.

Success is not assured, but America is resolute: this is the best chance for peace we are likely to see for some years to come - and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance.

Great leaders never accept the world as it was and always work for the world as it should be

Everyone wants Russia to be a prosperous, democratic state that is fully integrated.

Leading in a complex world means recognizing the simple things you can do to make things better.