In diplomacy, clear-cut wins and losses are rare.

I think we all are people that are the product of our backgrounds. It's wrong to think that you're not.

Because of my parents' love of democracy, we came to America after being driven twice from our home in Czechoslovakia - first by Hitler and then by Stalin.

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

When we're trying to solve difficult national issues its sometimes necessary to talk to adversaries as well as friends. Historians have a word for this: diplomacy.

I really do think about the fact that every day counts. I believe that every individual counts, and so I believe that every day counts and I try not to waste it.

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