We can change who we are. We can improve ourselves in various ways, and we can give ourselves possibilities.

Cognitive and character skills work together as dynamic complements; they are inseparable. Skills beget skills. More motivated children learn more. Those who are more informed usually make wiser decisions.

Self-control, openness, the ability to engage with others, to plan and to persist - these are the attributes that get people in the door and on the job, and lead to productive lives.

Schooling after the second grade plays only a minor role in creating or reducing gaps.

My family life is a deep source of satisfaction.

Early investment in the lives of disadvantaged children will help reduce inequality, in both the short and the long run.

Schools should look behind classroom doors and determine the factors that contribute to the kinds of interactions between teachers and students that promote student achievement.