Serving in Congress has been more than an honor; it has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life ... It has been a wonderful ride. It has been a wonderful journey.

My father taught that the only helping hand you're ever going to be able to rely on is the one at the end of your sleeve.

My work in the House of Representatives, at this time in my life, is completed. It is time to return home.

We need to remember that politics is all about people, not programs. We shouldn't want to take the humanness out of the political arena.

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking.

You saw the exodus of many people on the business council, who resigned, who said those are not my personal values, those are not our corporate values, and those - we don't believe - are the values of our country.

I'm looking forward to the day when America will mature to the point that we are a color-blind society. I'm not so sure that in politics that will ever be reality, because politics has a way of separating us based on skin color.