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

You [young people] all are just much more internationally-minded and traveled and knowledgeable in languages than any other previous generation. So many of you are already doing a lot of international relations, I think. I so believe in student networks, and people that either study abroad or come to the United States to study, and the relationships that you all develop. You learn a lot from each other, but you all will see each other again in jobs along the way. And I think that makes a big difference. I so believe in what students can do.

You think that the heads of state only have serious conversations, but they actually often begin really with the weather or, 'I really like your tie.'

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 there is never an indispensable leader, you know? I think that there is a time with dignity that one needs to leave.

I'm not a person who thinks the world would be entirely different if it was run by women. If you think that, you've forgotten what high school was like.

People didn't think that a woman could be the Secretary of State, when my name was out there...but then the Arab Ambassadors at the UN said 'We have no problem dealing with Ambassador Albright, and we would have no problem dealing with Secretary Albright.'