The natural state of man is to want to be free. To have opportunities. To have choices.

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.

Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.

Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.

We know where they are. They are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad.

We know where they are [Iraq's weapons of mass destruction]. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.

We do know of certain knowledge that he [Osama Bin Laden] is either in Afghanistan, or in some other country, or dead.

Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there.

Memories were waiting at the edges of things, beckoning to me.

Chance does nothing that has not been prepared beforehand.

Maybe the way we have learned to look has changed in the last 25 years, and the exotic is much more acceptable. There are many artists now, younger artists, who work out of the exotic

Don't say 'wife.' I'm your mistress. Wife's such an ugly word. Your 'permanent mistress' is so much more tangible and desirable… .

Show me a character whose life arouses my curiosity, and my flesh begins crawling with suspense.

Religion, like all things, begins with self, And naught is known, until one knows himself.

Everybody welcome-especially elders who smoke.

Every man's ability may be strengthened or increased by culture.

I try not to steal from myself, but the modalities create similarities.

It was a mistake to speak one's mind at any time, unless it perfectly matched your political purpose; and it never did.