If you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure.

America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people.

You work three jobs? Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." To a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005

I am comfortable that the principles that I articulated were never compromised.

There needs to be debates, like we're going through. There needs to be townhall meetings. There needs to be travel. This is a huge country.

Running for governor of Texas against a very popular governor [incumbent Ann Richards] was deemed to be risky. Everybody thought I would lose. As I put in my book, my mother said, "You're going to lose!"

So, for example, a country was into recession right after I was sworn in, a dot-com bust had taken place. Then the attacks of September the 11th, and then of course the great financial meltdown in the - the fundamental question facing any presidency is how do you deal with the hand you’re dealt?