I think a failed state is the responsibility of the people who have made that state fail, and those are generally the people of that country.

Be modest, be respectful of others, try to understand.

There is also a natural and very, very strong empathy with the underdog, with people who have suffered, people who have been pushed around by foreigners in particular, but also by their own people.

There is a firm, clear commitment to provide resources and ideas to enable us to organize the Afghans towards starting the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction.

People now realize that globalization is not only for the multi-nationals and the circulation of money.

Somebody was asking me the other day - President Bush is now talking about freedom for the Arab world. I say, well, that's great. I was talking about that fifty years ago.

To leave Afghanistan as a playground for terrorists and adventurers was simply not possible anymore.

Several million people inside and outside Afghanistan are destitute and desperately in need of help.

Of course the UN brings in a lot of moral authority.

Afghanistan is a land-locked country.

At times one feels that what is being said in the West is that the fact that you are a Muslim predisposes you to this blind, stupid terrorism.

Did your mom ever tell you, ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything’? She was right–and talking nicely also applies when you’re talking to yourself, even inside your head. (339)

A business plan is like a war plan, when you competitors know about it, it's no longer of any use

I always look old when I work because I get so upset and tense that my face wrinkles up like a prune, I can't stop it.

There is a door. It opens. Then it is closed. But a slip of light stays, like a scrap of unreadable paper left on the floor, or the one red leaf the snow releases in March

Sometimes the world is just out of our control and we like to blames ourselves so that we can make sense out of it.

The belief that one's own view of reality is the only reality is the most dangerous of all delusions.

Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.

Quality and perfection are achieved with time. You do not create a perfect painting or a perfect poem by hurrying. Time is always coming.

Success is a relative term. It brings so many relatives.