Somehow I got the feeling at an early age that I had to do something important with my life.

It is the future, of course, which politicians grapple with, and that is why politics is so disorderly. Only history clears away some of the debris.

A desire to succeed in politics is propelled by these two seemingly contradictory forces, which frequently change places and sometimes coexist: to save others and to save oneself.

One is responsible for one's own life. Passivity provides no protection.

Inaction, contrary to its reputation for being a refuge, is neither safe nor comfortable.

Women in leadership cannot cry without raising a storm of commentary.

Women need to see ourselves as individuals capable of creating change. That is what political and economic power is all about: having a voice, being able to shape the future. Women's absence from decision-making positions has deprived the country of a necessary perspective.