It is typically Norwegian to be good

Knowledge of other people's beliefs and ways of thinking must be used to build bridges, not to create conflicts.

We have to find compromises. That's the way it is in Norway.

Extremists and populist movements are exploiting people's fear of those who are not like us. We can see the consequences in the form of terrorism and racially motivated violence.

We must never relinquish the vision of a humane society and a humane world.

We have a good life when we manage to live with both satisfied and unsatisfied needs, when we are not obsessed by what is beyond our reach.

Terrorism is contempt for human dignity.

Human dignity is independent of national borders. We must always defend the interests of the poor and the persecuted in other countries.

We must remember that politics is more than a power game. The core of politics in my view is to serve our citizens, to serve our fellow human beings.

Don't believe those who claim that only left wing parties really care about employment.

Unfortunately, religion, like patriotism, is easy to misuse for political purposes.

Curiosity is the beginning of all creativity.

It is a fearful mistake to believe that because our wishes are not accomplished they can do no harm.

It is selfishness which is the cause of most of our misery.

Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives according to the best of what was in them.

Suffering borne in the will quietly and patiently is a continual, very powerful prayer before God.

The border between editing and ghostwriting is, at its extremes, a bit porous. An editor really improves and sometimes restructures a manuscript and suggests changes.

Learn to lead in a nourishing manner. Learn to lead without being possessive. Learn to be helpful without taking the credit. Learn to lead without coercion.

Innocence has a single voice that can only say over and over again, "I didn't do it." Guilt has a thousand voices, all of them lies.

Goals should be realistic, attainable, and shared among all members of the team

Whenever I call a company and get put on hold, I never really feel like I'm being held.