The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.

I have no doubt that there will continue to be bumps, some serious crises indeed in our relationship with China.... Neither membership in the WTO nor normalized trade relations with the United States will magically impose the rule of law on China or institute deep-seeded respect for human rights. But it certainly has potential to advance those purposes.

At 14 you are still in most respects a dependent youth, in some respects a child. At 24 you are an adult. In between, extraordinary turbulences take place.

If you don't have 30 years to devote to social policy, don't get involved.

Stubborn opposition to proposals often has no other basis than the complaining question, 'Why wasn't I consulted?'

You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.

To strip our past of glory is no great loss, but to deny it honor is devastating.