I hope that Angela Merkel can become the chancellor of the rebuilding of Europe, in close cooperation with the role that I will play in the process.

I thoroughly believe that reading and literature can help a society to better understand itself.

That might sound shocking to some - and don't worry, I don't see myself as a king.

Ambition is never modest. If modesty means to have middling success, then I can only say: I'm not interested.

We will succeed, because we are fully committed, because, wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: Make our planet great again.

I had decided that I wanted a dog from an animal shelter. Normally, presidents have purebred dogs, but my is a Labrador-griffon mix. Absolutely adorable.

For me, Europe consists of three things: sovereignty, unity and democracy.

I refuse to give into the sad reflex of French envy because this envy paralyzes our country.

My predecessor taxed wealthy, successful people at a higher rate than ever before. And what happened? They left. And what came of it? Did unemployment drop? No.

I have great respect for Angela Merkel, even if we have a lot of differences.

Post-modernism was the worst thing that could have happened to our democracy. The idea that you have to deconstruct and destroy all grand narratives is not a good one.

the future belongs to those societies that treat new ideas as delicate, fragile and immensely valuable pathways to the future.

I was learning that when you're with someone who is dying, you may need to celebrate the past, live the present, and mourn the future all at the same time.

Why not invest in the future of music, instead of building fortresses to preserve its past?

In Russia religion is the opium of the people; in China opium is the religion of the people.

The Tea Party doesn't like politicians.

Take care to be an economist in prosperity. There is no fear of your being one in adversity.

I believe everything happens under God's plan anyway.

If you aren't passionate about a vision, it's hard to have faith in it.

The Iraq Survey Group has already found massive evidence of a huge system of clandestine laboratories.

I ride rough waters, and shall sink with no one to save me.