We've organized human potential and have been better at using human potential better than any country on the face of the Earth. That's because we've recognized that our national creed, our national identity, is that it doesn't matter where you're from, it matters where you're going. You can come from hard circumstances and do great things. We've got to make that true for a whole variety of people who no longer feel that.

Every life is capable of greatness.

In any country, if you don't have countervailing institutions, the power of any one president is problematic for democratic development.

You never cede control of your own ability to be successful to something called racism.

One of the signs that things are going reasonably well for democracy is that we have the states where they're closer to the people. Federalism is a strength. We have all of these civil society institutions - civil society is a very important hallmark of democracy.

[I'm] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do.

What you know today can affect what you do tomorrow, but not what you did yesterday.