The magic of America is that we're a free and open society with a mixed population. Part of our security is our freedom.

No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground.

If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall. We see further into the future.

While democracy in the long run is the most stable form of government, in the short run, it is among the most fragile.

I am often asked if, when I was secretary, I had problems with foreign men. That is not who I had problems with, because I arrived in a very large plane that said United States of America. I had more problems with the men in our own government.