I certainly won't have an empty life!

I've always discovered things for myself, in marvelous freedom.

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.

You soon realize that the peak you've climbed was one of the lowest, that the mountain was part of a chain of mountains, that there are still so many, so many mountains to climb...And the more you climb, the more you want to climb - even though you're dead tired.

Happiness is such a fleeting point of view - there's no such thing as continual happiness.

When one has had a life as difficult as mine, one doesn't worry about how others will react.

Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.