The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best professional military advice.

People often ask, why aren't you reading about what it is you're working on right now? And the truth is, you only get three pages a night before your eyelids close.

The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.

I am not a politician, and I will never be, and I say that with absolute conviction.

After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair.

Political progress will only take place if sufficient security exists.

The fact is that Iran doesn't want to see the Taliban come back any more than do most Afghan citizens.

I'm living the dream.

Every civilian's death diminishes us, collectively.

Don't forget Yemen, where there are also extremist elements, as we saw recently.

I think Putin wants to recreate as much of the Soviet Union as he can through a variety of different means. He's invaded parts of Georgia, took Crimea, southeastern Ukraine, bases in other countries.

It's just...how do I put this? Maybe it's just hard for me to imagine turning down something that's so much harder for someone like me to find.

You would destroy yourselves but He would be your savior.

In order to join vigorously in the moral work of the world I must believe that somehow the best I can accomplish will endure, will leave its trace on things, will aid the final consummation.

Ever since I was a young man, I wanted to run for the presidency in the worst possible way - and I did.

Bob Dylan is the Jew of all time.

It is much easier to organize control over one industry serving many markets than over one market served by the products of several industries.

I'll give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind

Our job is to ask questions of children so that children internalize these questions and ask them of themselves and their own emerging drafts.

Doing goodness is good only when you don't expect anything in return; not a medal, not even a simple thanking!

I feel empty, not because of sadness, but because of relief, all the tension flowing out of me.