We live in an image society. Speeches are not what anybody cares about; what they care about is the picture.

Leaders are made by the situations they are involved in. I think that some rise to the occasion and some do not.

The reason I made women's issues central to American foreign policy, was not because I was a feminist, but because we know that societies are more stable if women are politically and economically empowered.

What's the point of having this superb military you're always talking about if we can't use it?

You have to learn to interrupt because you aren't going to get called on.

I've never been to New Zealand before. But one of my role models, Xena, the warrior princess, comes from there.

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