You can have a broad popular democracy movement and have it end being taken over by the most vicious people and the result is you don't end up with free political systems or free economic systems, you end up with a handful of radicals controlling the country.

Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and accountability their direction.

We have an orientation that tends to make us think that everything is our responsibility and that we should be doing this. It is the Iraqis' country, 28 million of them. They are perfectly capable of running that country.

Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll risk losing your balance. Keep your mooring lines to the outside world -- family, friends, neighbors, people out of government, and people who may not agree with you.

When I served as US Ambassador to NATO in the 1970s, the center of gravity in Europe was France and Germany.

Every president when he is elected has to live with the pluses and minuses his predecessor leaves, which includes benefits as well as burdens.

Don't 'over-control' like a novice pilot. Stay loose enough from the flow that you can observe it, modify, and improve it.

The implication that there was something wrong with the war plan is amusing.

The success of an organization will depend on the people you surround yourself with.

When someone with a rural accent says, I don't know much about politics, zip up your pockets.

At 78 years old, I am not surprised at much anymore. Germany has taken divergent positions before, so has France, so has England, so has the US.

Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was -- by a taxpayer.

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost.

After he saw what happened to Saddam Hussein, he (Gadhafi) did not want to be Saddam Hussein. He gave up his nuclear program.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that.

If there are people who yearn for the days when Saddam Hussein was in power, then I am not among them.

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.

Pieces of intelligence, scraps of intelligence...you run down leads and you run down leads, and you hope that sometimes it works.

The way to do well is to do well.