There are an awful lot of things going on that need understanding and explanation, but - to put it mildly - the world is a mess.

I think that we had a different view of what the 21st century could be like, with much more of a sense, from our perspective, of trying to have an interdependent world: looking at solving regional conflicts, having strength in alliances, operating within some kind of a sense that we were part of the international community and not outside of it.

The difference between humans and other mammals is that we know how to accessorize.

I am the only high-ranking U.S. official to ever meet with Kim Jong-il, and we are the same height and both wear high heels.

While democracy in the long run is the most stable form of government, in the short run, it is among the most fragile.

The best book, like the best speech, will do it all - make us laugh, think, cry and cheer - preferably in that order.

My mind-set is Munich. Most of my generation's is Vietnam.