We can't afford as a nation - not because of money but because of our social fabric - to have large numbers of people who are not working.

I compensate for big risks by always doing my homework and being well-prepared. I can take on larger risks by reducing the overall risk.

Fear drives you and makes you better.

I bring other constituencies - I also have ties to minority communities. And obviously, to the world of world-class research universities. So I can bring some constituencies that I'm used to working with.

Asking the government to help you for short periods of time is different than asking the government to take care of you for the rest of your life.

I've spent my whole life with people underestimating me.

What you really remember at the beginning was that you have to throw a budget together. We made some terrible mistakes at the beginning in my own budget that took us at least a year to catch up on.