You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.

I always stayed married to my husband! Always, until the day he died! It's not true that we were separated!

Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.

I discovered [Joan of Arc] toward the age of ten or twelve, when I went to France. I don't remember where I read about her, but I recall that she immediately took on a definite importance for me. I wanted to sacrifice my life for my country. It seems like foolishness and yet...what happens when we're children is engraved forever on our lives.

Little by little I changed my mind, and when I was about eighteen, I began to consider the possibility of getting married. Not to have a husband, but to have children.

Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.

I don't care if I remain prime minister. I'm only interested in doing a good job as long as I'm capable and for as long as I don't get tired.