I was elected to come to an incredibly dysfunctional capital and make the government work better, and that's what I'm doing.

I believe public education is the new civil rights battle and I support charter schools.

There was never a war on poverty. Maybe there was a skirmish on poverty

As my Sicilian grandfather used to say, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, right?

I believe women still face a glass ceiling that must be shattered.

I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and brightest to public service and I believe that government can be a source of inspiration, not degradation.

I am against the death penalty.

The time has come to return integrity, performance and dignity to New York and make it the Empire State once again.

The essential job of government is to facilitate, not frustrate, job development

People go into politics because they want the affirmation, and they want the applause.

I respect the state workers and I respect their unions, but we simply can't afford to pay benefits and pensions that are out of line with economic reality.

You are what you love, not who loves you.

I don't feel pain. I ain't got time for that. I let other people feel pain for me.

Rules, after all, are only made so you can work around them

I'm not perfect, but if there are any points given for caring about people with every fiber of your being and giving life all you've got every day, then I suppose I have a shot.

I don't have a favorite. I need different genres at different times.

When your entire life is focused around one goal and one goal only, and you have no other pursuits, it enables you to achieve enormous mastery.

I'm getting rid of this idea that you want people to like you. I'm making decisions on what feels right to me. To act in a more carnal way. That's my challenge.

I have a dark side; it's been pretty well documented. It wouldn't be bad to show that in some light in my work...It's something I no longer fear doing and am actually excited about doing.

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

You have to be honest about who you are.