“I feel like I have had the most amazing life in my public service.”

“The challenge is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.”

“There is no doubt that America remains the premier political, economic, military power in the world, and I both expect and count on it remaining so, because I think that's certainly in our best interest but also the best interests of the world.”

“Now I know that Wal-Mart's policies do not reflect the best way of doing business and the values that I think are important in America.”

“I am someone who hopes for the best and prepares for the worst.”

“We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society.”

“I am neither frustrated nor planning anything other than being the best Secretary of State I could be.”

“Now I know that Wal-Mart's policies do not reflect the best way of doing business and the values that I think are important in America.”

“I don't think we should be about the business of denying voters in Michigan and Florida the right to be heard.”

“In almost every profession - whether it's law or journalism, finance or medicine or academia or running a small business - people rely on confidential communications to do their jobs. We count on the space of trust that confidentiality provides. When someone breaches that trust, we are all worse off for it.”

“I think we have to face the reality that in a society where there is a legitimate threat of terrorism, not being able to see one's face, not being able to have some sense of communication in that way, is for many societies a challenge.”

“Let's not leave an educational vacuum to be filled by religious extremists who go to families who have no other option and offer meals, housing and some form of education. If we are going to combat extremism then we must educate those very same children.”

“I feel very lucky because of my parents and then my education, the opportunities that I've had, so I would like to continue working to improve lives for others.”

“There are 4 billion cell phones in use today. Many of them are in the hands of market vendors, rickshaw drivers, and others who've historically lacked access to education and opportunity. Information networks have become a great leveler, and we should use them together to help lift people out of poverty and give them a freedom from want.”

“In my family, we were Americans, we were Republicans and we were Methodists.”

“You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health. And reproductive health includes contraception and family planning and access to legal, safe abortion.”

“Every nation has to either be with us, or against us. Those who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to pay a price.”

“In almost every profession - whether it's law or journalism, finance or medicine or academia or running a small business - people rely on confidential communications to do their jobs. We count on the space of trust that confidentiality provides. When someone breaches that trust, we are all worse off for it.”

“It is often when night looks darkest, it is often before the fever breaks that one senses the gathering momentum for change, when one feels that resurrection of hope in the midst of despair and apathy.”

“The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.”

“Egypt has been a partner of the United States over the last 30 years, has been instrumental in keeping the peace in the Middle East between Egypt and Israel, which is a critical accomplishment that has meant so much to so many people.”

“The need for peace in Northern Ireland goes well beyond political stability. It now speaks to regional Europe and even global stability.”

“I want to teach. I want to speak. I want to travel.”

“There is a sense that things, if you keep positive and optimistic about what can be done, do work out.”

“The first lesson I've learned is that no matter what you do in your life, you have to figure out your own internal rhythms - I mean, what works for you doesn't necessarily work for your friend.”

“We don't have enough support for maternal leave and the kinds of things that some of the European countries do. So we still make it hard on women to go into the work force and feel that they can be good at work but then doing the most important job, which is raising your children in a responsible and positive way.”

“I'm one of these very focused people when it comes to day-to-day work, and I'm trying not to think about what comes next so that I can stay very focused on what I'm doing now.”