It is the belief that extremes and excesses of inequality must be reduced so that each person is free to fully develop his or her full potential. This is why we take precious time out of our lives and give it to politics.

There is a major ingredient missing from our perception of how changes are brought about; that ingredient is power.

I dare to imagine a country where every child I hold in my hands, are all God's children, regardless of the color of their skin, regardless of whether they're boy or girl, regardless of religion, regardless of rich or poor, that every child I hold in my hands, will have the same chance to reach her full potential or his full potential. That is the goodness of our country. That is the essence of the American dream.

As free citizens in a political democracy, we have a responsibility to be interested and involved in the affairs of the human community, be it at the local or the global level.

If a teacher does not involve himself, his values, his commitments, in the course of discussion, why should the students?

Let there be no distance between the words you say and the life you live.

We must renew democracy itself. We have to fight cynicism and inertia and restore faith in the advancement of our country.