Withdrawal of US troops will become like salted peanuts to the American public: The more US troops come home, the more will be demanded.

The challenge is whether China as a rising country, the United States as the superpower, can develop a cooperative relationship in this period before nationalism becomes so dominant in China as a substitute for communism, and a kind of self-righteous isolationism in this country that substitutes China for the Soviet Union.

The enemies you make by taking a decided stand generally have more respect for you than the friends you make by being on the fence

You can't make war in the Middle East without Egypt and you can't make peace without Syria.

Don't be too ambitious. Do the most important thing you can think of doing every year and then your career will take care of itself.

Leaders are responsible not for running public opinion polls but for the consequences of their actions.

I don't stand on protocol. Just call me your Excellency.