No worthy goal should come easily, he told himself. Suffering created value.

It's all you can say, when the end comes: 'I did not waste my time.' I think that matters. I think it may be all that matters.

History was more than just stories, he reminded himself as the men walked forward with their burdens. It taught lessons as well.

The world cannot be full of lead dogs, or the pack would pull itself apart.

There is a price for all things, my son, for all men. I have merely to find his.

I am not you and all my choices have already been made, good and bad.

I am the rightful khan of the nation. I am the gur-khan. My word is iron and my word is law.

Predators did not need mercy.

Sung Win smiled to himself, enjoying the tension across his shoulders and the way his pulse beat in his veins. All life involved risk.

You have a powerful army, Kublai, but the best force is one you do not have to use.

We are all fools with our sons. We wipe them and suckle them and all we expect is for them to be grateful to the end of their days.

He reached up and tugged his ear. And I did the same.

David impresses by his example on the field. He never stops running, he plays with supreme confidence, he always tries his hardest and he scores important goals. (on David Beckham)

I wish I had a man and not a dishrag printed over with big words like 'constitutional rights' and 'progress'!

The world economy is more stable than for a generation ... Our hugely sophisticated financial markets match funds with ideas better than ever before.

Without a pen in my hand I can't think.

I have a lot of faith in people.

If there were a button I could press, I would sacrifice myself without hesitating, if it meant millions of people would die.

We are as answerable for what we give as for what we receive; nay, the misplacing of a benefit is worse than the not receiving of it; for the one is another person's fault, but the other is mine.

If you don't like your definition of 'good enough', then feel free to change that, but the goal before shipping is merely that. Not perfect.

There are also fundamental issues related to what the current leader, President [Barack] Obama, said. I am referring to his idea about American exceptionalism. I am skeptical about this idea.