It is worth reminding that being president is a tough job for anybody, and particularly so in the information age. There's such a glut of information. Anything a president says or does is picked up on the Internet or the 24/7 news media and criticized almost instantly. Leaders persuade through their words and as such their words need to be measured and well chosen. It is a tough job.

You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.

Strive to make proposed solutions as self-executing as possible. As the degree of discretion increases, so too does bureaucracy, delay, and expense.

The problem is the people who tend to be the best organized are the most radical and the most vicious.

Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.

What is needed [to combat terrorism], in my view, is resolve, not retreat; courage, not concession. Rather than thinking in terms of an exit strategy, focus on a strategy for success.

If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly.