First, the only certainty is that there is no certainty. Second, every decision, as a consequence, is a matter of weighing probabilities. Third, despite uncertainty we must decide and we must act. And lastly, we need to judge decisions not only on the results, but on how they were made.

We do not view 2005 to be a clean operating year, and the positives of beating expectations are offset by guidance moving around.

Some people are more certain of everything than I am of anything.

I don't have a distaste for ambiguity, in fact, ambiguity is what I think life is all about.

In terms of myself, I said from the very beginning that I wanted to work in the management of Citigroup and I didn't want to be a CEO, ... That's not what I want to do with myself at the moment.

Here at home, ... while the most likely scenario remains solid growth and low inflation -- subject to the usual ups and downs -- certain sectors have been impacted by the crisis, some because of increased imports and others because of decreased exports. Moreover, problems in the global economy do constitute a risk to all our overall economic well-being.

A strong currency means that American consumers and businesses can buy imported goods and services more cheaply and that inflation and interest rates will be lower, ... It also puts pressure on American industry to increase productivity and competitiveness. These benefits can feed on themselves as foreign capital flows in more readily because of greater confidence in our currency. A weak dollar would have the contrary effects.