You know, when a president is about to leave office, most of the time most people are dying for him to go on and get out of there. But there are a few little rituals that have to be observed. One of them is that the president must host the incoming president in the White House, smile as if they love each other and give the American people the idea that democracy is peaceful and honourable and there will be a good transfer of power

For the truly faithful, no miracle is necessary. For those who doubt, no miracle is sufficient.

Of all ennobling sentiments, patriotism may be the most easily manipulated. On the one hand, it gives powerful expression to what is best in a nation's character: a commitment to principle, a willingness to sacrifice, a devotion to the community by the choice of the individual. But among its toxic fruits are intolerance, belligerence and blind obedience, perhaps because it blooms most luxuriantly during times of war.

A president cant go to every memorial service.

If Heaven is willing to sing to us, it is little to ask that we be ready to listen.

I would like to see every newspaper and every magazine have a network of bureaus all over the world, gathering news.

Dwight Eisenhower was candid in private, but he was circumspect in public.