Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, and then watching the evidence change.

A billion dollars every week for Iraq, $87 billion for Iraq. We can't get $5 billion for childcare over five years in welfare reform.

The best response to bad religion is better religion, not secularism.

We can find common ground only by moving to higher ground.

Sometimes it takes a natural disaster to reveal a social disaster.

Our calling is not only to pull people out of the river, but to go upstream to find out what or who is pushing them in.

Faith reminds us that change is always possible.

Anyone can love peace, but Jesus didn't say, "Blessed are the peace-lovers." He says �peacemakers.� He is referring to a life vocation, not a hobby on the sidelines of life.

The Christian doctrine is one that is both about individual spirituality and a parallel commitment to social justice.

What is my calling? What am I supposed to do? I think running for office, public office, can be a divine calling. I mean, Ive wrestled with that very question myself.

The world will not change until we do

Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.

Education is not only a ladder of opportunity, but it is also an investment in our future.

I guess I fell into cooking.

I'll bring what I bring to the tale, but it's good to know you have two guys with the experience and know-how in big games.

No one can be free unless he is independent.

The Social Security trust fund is in pretty good shape today and we should not embark upon risky, dangerous schemes which will, in fact, undermine Social Security, such as privatization.

The skeletons of the plants are for me as important as the flowers.

When I'm not at the keyboard, I'm generally reading, practicing tai chi or middle eastern dance, or cooking.

I have my own personal wish list.