Greece's history in the drachma was an up-and-down history, a roller coaster.

You can theorise about the options you have but in reality they are very specific.

I have a deep sense of responsibility to my country and Greek people.

This idea that you're a successful tough guy if you evade taxes and deceive the state has got to change.

The Marshall Plan was after destruction, and the U.S. came to our help and obviously this was very, very important for the future of Europe. I think now we have all the capabilities of doing it on our own and, in a sense, we have to.

If we were going to default, we would have decided that many months ago. It would be wrong for the Greek economy, it would be wrong for the European economy, it would make things worse in the end. That's why we're taking the pain and making these structural reforms, and we're on target.

At times of distress, we all like to recall the advice of fathers and mothers. The best advice my father gave me was to keep faith and deep confidence in the potential of the Greek people; nurture the belief that they can do things.