The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in international affairs.

The public life of every political figure is a continual struggle to rescue an element of choice from the pressure of circumstance.

I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and security, one should try to avoid it.

You're 18 points down [in the polls]... You might as well do what's right.

If peace is equated simply with the absence of war, it can become abject pacifism that turns the world over to the most ruthless.

If you control the food, you control a nation. If you control the energy, you control a region. If you control the money, you control the world.

Where position is felt to be a birthright, generosity is possible (though not guaranteed); flexibility is not inhibited by a commitment to perpetual success.