Message matters. Message matters almost as much as actions.

It's exciting to work with the kids so devoid of irony, so unguarded. And also terrifying

Reaching out to any fellow ghetto kids is an act he puts in the same category as doing drugs: the initial rush of warmth and euphoria puts you on a path to ruin.

The President, who really had been mostly managing his one-man Barack Obama narrative and journey his whole life, without executive experience, certainly - he's not a governor. Some governors, of course, they have experience in executing power, which is something fairly unique, actually, in government. And he has, neither, a set of nourishing experiences.

Younger colleagues tended to draw untested self-confidence from their bonuses and prestigious degrees.

Civilizations rise and fall on confidence. America had figured out a way to borrow money to manufacture it.

I don't have to deal with the issues of the daily news cycle.