Being a leader for me is about having the courage to speak the truth, and live the truth, despite attempts to silence our thoughts, feelings, and past experiences.

Sometimes you just have to jump off the cliff without knowing where you will land.

I firmly believe today that the only way to stop violence against women is to speak out and refused to be silenced.

Every woman must own her story; otherwise we are all part of the silence.

Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking inspirational words, but about leading with example.

Everything can be taken from you in a second, but the human spirit is so strong. War can teach you so much about evil, and so much about good.

Women are not just victims; they are survivors and leaders on the community-level backlines of peace and stability.

It seems to me that violence against women has been tolerated for so long that the world has become numb to it.

Changes don't happen in the world by playing it safe, taking risks is the way to change the world.

The single thing all women need in the world is inspiration, and inspiration comes from storytelling.

Without women's full inclusion at the decision making table, we cannot have any healthy decision making that is good for men and women alike.

In my eyes, all readers are my father and mother. You may see a boy, with all of his body and heart bared, resplendently smiling to mom, and that boy is me.

No children were harmed or neglected during the writing of this book.

Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time.

I still have that new senator smell.

Love insists the loved loves back

I never hear the rattling of dice that it does not sound to me like the funeral bell of the whole family.

Moderation is essential in all things, madam, but never in my life have I failed to beat a teetotaller.

When merit has been achieved, do not take it to yourself; for if you do not take it to yourself, it shall never be taken from you.

If she [woman] is weak in striking, she is strong in suffering.

The object of war is victory, the object of victory is conquest, and the object of conquest is occupation.