[in response to Harry Belafonte's "house slave" remark about him] If Harry had wanted to attack my politics, that was fine. If he wanted to attack a particular position I hold, that was fine. But to use a slave reference, I think, is unfortunate and is a throwback to another time and another place that I wish Harry had thought twice about using. Show less «

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. Show less «

Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Show less «

We need people who know how the system runs, but it really is not necessary to stay there for an entire career. When I was made a three-star general, I was congratulated and told, "Two years from now to the day, if we haven't given you another job or promotion we expect your resignation on our desk". That's not bad. Show less «

[regarding the notorious prison at the US Navy's Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba set up by the George W. Bush administration to hold suspects accused of terrorist activities without trial or charges] If it was up to me, I would close Guantanamo not tomorrow but this afternoon. Show less «

[2/24/01, in Cairo, Egypt] He [Saddam Hussein] has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors. Show less «

The "I Have a Dream" speech [given by civil rights leader Martin Luther King] held up a mirror for all Americans to look deeply into the spirit and soul of our country. The "Dream" speech, along with the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act that followed, finally broke the bonds of segregation and Jim Crow that had imprisoned our finest dreams. Not only were African-Americans given a berth of freedom, but white America had a horrible burden removed from its back. Fifty years later, we have seen great progress. But we are not yet where we need to be. Education, jobs, health care and good housing for all Americans must remain our goal. We all must work together if Dr. King's dream is to be fully realized. Show less «

[about the late Swedish Foreign Minister, Anna Lindh] There are three things I like about Sweden: ABBA, Volvo and Anna! Show less «