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

Even before I went to the UN, I often would want to say something in a meeting - only woman at the table - and I'd think, 'OK well, I don't think I'll say that. It may sound stupid.' And then some man says it, and everybody thinks it's completely brilliant, and you are so mad at yourself for not saying something.

the purpose of foreign policy is to persuade others to do what we want or, better yet, to want what we want.

I can't imagine what it is like to be raised in a society where their only statues that exist are to you and your father.

One of the things that was really an issue was I did not want to just be a woman secretary of state. I wanted to be a secretary of a state who was a woman, but not just chosen for that particular reason.

No matter how hard we might wish, we will not be able to transform China's behavior overnight.

The U.N. bureaucracy has grown to elephantine proportions. Now that the Cold War is over, we are asking that elephant to do gymnastics.