We have the most generous immigration policy, but what is a concern is when illegal immigrants come and undermine a variety of the systems that work in order to make our society function.

If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future.

Don't make me into this airy-fairy, moralist, idealist because I'm not.

Glass ceilings have been broken, but more have to be broken.

One of the things I write about a bit in my Madam Secretary memoir is on Rwanda, where I was an instructed ambassador at the U.N., and my instructions were to not vote for increased forces there, and I didn't like my instructions. So I got up and called Washington and said, "Change my instructions," and they didn't.

Women have to be active listeners and interrupters - but when you interrupt, you have to know what you are talking about.

Really, I have to laugh because there was a whole set of stories that made me sound like the Dragon Lady, you know, 'tough this and tough that.' Then there is this business about 'gooey.' The bottom line is I am a pragmatic idealist.