---

For too long, many nations, including my own, tolerated, even excused, oppression in the Middle East in the name of stability. Oppression became common, but stability never arrived. We must take a different approach. We must help the reformers of the Middle East as they work for freedom, and strive to build a community of peaceful, democratic nations.

---

The advance of liberty is the path to both a safer and better world.

---

Good writing takes more than just time; it wants your best moments and the best of you.

---

Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.

---

Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken.

---

Great necessities call out great virtues.

---

We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.

---

Reputations are created every day and every minute.

---

I have often thought that if photography were difficult in the true sense of the term -- meaning that the creation of a simple photograph would entail as much time and effort as the production of a good watercolor or etching -- there would be a vast improvement in total output. The sheer ease with which we can produce a superficial image often leads to creative disaster.

---

Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.

---