The first dream I had was just to get a college education. I got through college in three years, taking extra classes in summer school.

Ideas, more than money, are really the currency for success.

Any city in America would like to get a museum built if they didn't have to pay for it.

I'd be bored to death if I spent all my time with other businesspeople, bankers and lawyers.

Civilizations are not remembered by their business people, their bankers or lawyers. They're remembered by the arts.

The biggest barrier we've seen to student progress is this: School policies and practices often prevent good teachers from doing great work and even dissuade some talented Americans from entering the profession. This needs to change.

People don't know I've got a deep social conscience. I'm a child of the Depression, born in 1933. My parents were very liberal in their social views.