The most significant thing is public participation. That assures the Afghan public that our promises are not empty.

We live in an interconnected world, and you cannot prevent people from leaving. What you need to do is to create opportunities. At the same time, people are also coming back.

Do not ever threaten an Afghan with violence. We will rise as one and we will face every threat the way we have taken on thousands of previous armies and conquerors.

When windows shatter through a bomb, we will repair it next week because we are Afghans. That's the spirit.

We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he that pays the price.

The job of an elected president is to overcome the past and change the playing field.

Peace is a national issue, not only government's responsibility.

We will not let the price of peace be greater than the price of war, we will firmly safeguard the achievements of the past 13 years under former President Karzai.

It [terrorism] happened because intelligence, leadership and police failures made it possible.

Deadlines concentrate the mind. But deadlines should not be dogmas.

Terrorism attacks peoples' trust in the system of their state. There is protection, but only if there is collective action and collective understanding about how to really deal with this phenomenon.

Humans are in love with the idea of our persisting, ' he said. 'We fetishize it, really. Our retirement funds, our genealogies. Our so-called ideas for the ages.

The only thing that differentiates you and me from a couple of fourteen year old pyromaniacs is balistic glass!

Forms in art arise from the impact of idea upon material... so that thinking and belief and attitudes may endure as actual things.

I cut my teeth as the black raccoon-- For implements of battle.

Although Christ, in my mind is an absolute Yogi, I think many Christian teachers today are misrepresenting Christ.

Although the season is joyful everywhere, / And mountain and valley are all verdant, / That would seem a truly small matter to him / Who has met mischance in love.

A coat that is not used, the moths eat; and a Christian who is hung up so that he shall not be tempted-the moths eat him; and they have poor food at that.

Brief life is here our portion.

The single most effective way to get rid of rumor and speculation is to be transparent.

I think this sets a very bad precedent, the president unilaterally on his own starting war without any consent from Congress.