I wouldn't even know - and I spent three years in the CIA - I wouldn't even know how you'd start a covert action program in a place like Iran. It would be extraordinarily difficult.

Intelligence is not a science.

The Crown Prince has said he needs to broaden political participation in the governing of Saudi Arabia.

These are all elements, but the main thing we can do in the Middle East is encourage the reformist elements.

There's clearly something to be said for success and following through on your commitments.

Over a period of time, I think the popular will in Iran will prevail.

It took us 50 months in Germany, post World War II to go from the end of the war to a national election.

Policymakers have to make judgments based on the best intelligence they get.

And I argued with that intelligence estimate and I think it is a responsibility of policymakers to use their best judgment on the basis of the intelligence they've received.

We went into Iraq because Iraq posed a threat to the stability of the region and was engaged in the process of trying to develop weapons of mass destruction and had links to terrorists.

Great men don't strive for greatness, theysimply do great works.

I [prefer] a short life with width to a narrow one with length.

We do not mind our not arriving anywhere nearly so much as our not having any company on the way.

It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a sense of absence without turning that absence into some kind of presence

In order to be an economist these days, you have to participate in this fairytale that somehow we can recover and still make the banks rich. And it is a fairytale.

I don't like pop music.

Your virtue raises your glory above your crime.

No man can be held throughout the day by what happens throughout the night.

All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.

I don't know, think for that relationship in particular age doesn't really come into play.