It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency – that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. There’s no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I’ll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.

People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything.

For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.

Anything important is never left to the vote of the people. We only get to vote on some man; we never get to vote on what he is to do.

Scrubbing floors and emptying bedpans has as much dignity as the Presidency.

I’ve had some ‚riotous excursions of the human spirit‘ alongside the young Sailors and Marines, and it’s time to leave the stage to the young leaders who got their rank the old-fashioned way – they earned their stripes in combat.

I think with the Romans, that the general of today should be a soldier tomorrow if necessary.

Every man who has at last succeeded, after long effort, in calling up the divinity which lies hidden in a woman’s heart, is startled to find that he must obey the God he summoned.

Hillary doesn’t play. She has more experience and exposure to the presidency than any candidate in our lifetime – yes, more than Barack, more than Bill. So she is absolutely ready to be Commander-in-Chief on day one. And, yes, she happens to be a woman.

Remember that the essence of authority is that people willingly follow your lead.

I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.

As a leader, you have to have the ability to assimilate new information and understand that there might be a different view.

If I made a commitment, I stood by that commitment – and try to make it real. Because when you become leaders, the most important thing you have is your word, your trust. That’s where respect comes from.

Most of the problems a President has to face have their roots in the past.

I think that a president needs to have a variety of views presented. But also, there has to be a team effort, because otherwise, I think it creates a dissonance and difficulty.

Sadly, the truth is, there aren’t many people who can be put in high positions who won’t start thinking highly of themselves.

And I think it’s that time. And I think if you just step aside and Mr. Romney can kind of take over. You can maybe still use a plane. Though maybe a smaller one. Not that big gas guzzler you are going around to colleges and talking about student loans and stuff like that.

My game is really played above time. I don’t say that like I’m saying I’m ahead of my time. I’m saying, like, if I’m on the court and I throw a pass, the ball that I’ve thrown will lead my teammate right where he needs to go, before he even knows that that’s the right place to go to.

A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.

Fear is stupid. So are regrets.

I just figured out that if I gave my all into this game – if I put everything into the fight business – then I would eventually run the fight business.

How do leaders serve their people? They may pay good wages and treat employees with respect.

Bad performances can happen and are not that serious – even with new players. You can’t, say, sell him, get a new one.

I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.

A conductor can’t be too arrogant with an orchestra and try to impose himself too much.

In war as in life, it is often necessary when some cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if so, it is folly not to work for it with all your might.

What matters in the Sun-tzu universe are not positions of strength and power, but situations in which you have options, full of potential force.

Don’t just eat McDonald’s, get something a bit better. Eat a salad. That’s what fashion is. It’s something that is a bit better.

I want to consistently play well and win titles. I’m only at the beginning.

I want to marry Arline because I love her – which means I want to take care of her. That is all there is to it. I want to take care of her. I am anxious for the responsibilities and uncertainties of taking care of the girl I love.

To be able to finish opportunities that I do get in the paint, that makes a difference.

You can play fast but not in a hurry. As a point guard, I can dictate that.

There is no such thing as Something for nothing.

Instead of being critical of people in authority over you and envious of their position, be happy you’re not responsible for everything they have to do. Instead of piling on complaints, thank them for what they do. Overwhelm them with encouragement and appreciation!

Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.

The authority you establish must emerge naturally from your character, from the particular strengths you possess.

I believe in benevolent dictatorship provided I am the dictator.

You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn’t.

With Benghazi, I don’t see anyone saying, ‚Hey look, I am overall responsible for this and therefore, I take responsibility for what happened. It’s my fault.‘ I haven’t heard that yet. Meanwhile, the other side of the coin, the Osama bin Laden raid, it seems everyone made that decision, and that’s just unbelievable to me.

A President’s hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right.

One must change one’s tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one’s superiority.

If I can be a leader, I will.

I’m committed to the people of Gujarat. I will devote each and every moment to serve my people of Gujarat.

It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.

At Microsoft there are lots of brilliant ideas but the image is that they all come from the top – I’m afraid that’s not quite right.

Just as discipline and freedom are opposing forces that must be balanced, leadership requires finding the equilibrium in the dichotomy of many seemingly contradictory qualities between one extreme and another.

There’s a big difference between falling in love with someone and falling in love with someone and getting married. Usually, after you get married, you fall in love with the person even more.

The story being told in ‚Star Wars‘ is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency to do the same things over and over again. Power corrupts, and when you’re in charge, you start doing things that you think are right, but they’re actually not.

Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.

Policy makers who have never served in the military continue to use the military to lead social change in this country.

The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort.

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

I understand everybody in this country doesn’t agree with the decisions I’ve made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand.

People who can’t be witty exert themselves to be devout and affectionate.

Marriage is this grand madness, and I think if people knew that, they would perhaps take it more seriously.

I explain the law of compensation like this: ‚Returns are minimal in spite of massive effort at the start, yet returns can be massive with minimal effort over time.

When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president. He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that’s not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

Anybody who tells you that a two-day conference, you’re going to turn into the General Patton of leadership, they’re not telling you the truth. But you can learn the fundamentals; you can absolutely understand the fundamentals.

Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of evry part of your life.

My dear sisters, whatever your calling, whatever your circumstances, we need your impressions, your insights, and your inspiration. We need you to speak up and speak out in ward and stake councils.