The interesting part is, that being the United States Secretary of State, most places I went didn't have a problem with me being a woman, because I was representing the United States.

I have been in meetings where a head of state will say, 'I like your tie,' to a man... or, 'I like your country because the weather's good,' or whatever. So for me, the pins in some ways were openers.

To be safe at the expense of the liberty of other people is a difficult equation.

For me, America is really, truly the indispensable nation.

The magic of America is that we're a free and open society with a mixed population. Part of our security is our freedom.

For somebody who loves foreign policy, being Secretary is the best job in the world - but it doesn't happen twice.

But I do not believe that the world would be entirely different if there were more women leaders. Maybe if everybody in leadership was a woman, you might not get into the conflicts in the first place. But if you watch the women who have made it to the top, they haven't exactly been non-aggressive - including me.