As we think of power in the 21st century, we want to get away from the idea that power’s always zero sum — my gain is your loss and vice versa. Power can also be positive sum, where your gain can be my gain.

America should find its interests in ways which are more consistent with the interests of other countries, which are things that are good for us but also good for others. That will make Americans exporters of hope again, not exporters of fear.

Terrorism is like jujitsu: The small players win if they make the large player use his strength against himself.

In the information age, it's not just whose army wins, but whose story wins.

American power in the world relies on these ideals of openness and critical debate.

His [Osama bin Laden]excessive use of terror, including numerous attacks that indiscriminately killed many women and children, and of course many Muslims, has hurt the attractiveness of his message.

Power is the ability to affect others to get the outcomes you want, and that can be done by coercion, payment or attraction.