Quotes from Condoleezza Rice

I use the word power broadly. Even more important than military and economic power is the power of ideas, the power of compassion, and the power of hope.

Believe it or not, I loved acid rock in college - and I still do.

The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly Saddam can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.

But I want to just caution, it is not incumbent on the United States to prove that Saddam Hussein is trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction. He's already demonstrated that he's trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

I think my father thought I might be president of the United States. I think he would've been satisfied with secretary of state. I'm a foreign policy person, and to have a chance to serve my country as the nation's chief diplomat at a time of peril and consequence, that was enough.

My mom was a teacher - I have the greatest respect for the profession - we need great teachers - not poor or mediocre ones.

The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.

Leading in a complex world means recognizing the simple things you can do to make things better.

America's still a very, very powerful symbol and a very important place of leadership for the world.

Everybody in the world is capable of democratic development. Some people in the world are unlucky enough to get stuck with really bad political leadership and with really bad political institutions.

Every life is capable of greatness.

When I talk to students - and I still think of myself more than anything as a kind of professor on leave - they say, 'Well, how do I get to do what you do?'... And I say, 'Well, you have to start out by being a failed piano major.' And my point to them is don't try to have a 10-year plan. Find the next thing that interests you and follow that.

I think Americans are not guilty for 9/11; I think President Bush is not guilty for 9/11.

Race is a constant factor in American life. Yet reacting to every incident,real or imagined, is crippling, tiring, and ultimately counterproductive.

Most days are not overwhelmingly successful in your life. And what really marks whether you're going to be successful is how well you deal with the bad days, not how well you deal with the good ones.

Every life is worthy and every life is capable of greatness. We have an obligation to make sure that opportunity for greatness is there.

We know that there are unaccounted-for Scud and other ballistic missiles in Iraq. And part of the problem is that, since 1998, there has been no way to even get minimal information about those programs except through intelligence means.

People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights.

I am very fond of Jeb Bush. He's a friend; he was a terrific governor of Florida. I worked with him on some immigration and education issues.

We can't afford to leave Afghanistan to the Taliban and the terrorists.

Differences can be a strength.

Differences can be strength rather than a handicap.

Success is not assured, but America is resolute: this is the best chance for peace we are likely to see for some years to come - and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance.

I've found my place in life, that I'm passionate about, my talents and my passion have merged, and I'm trying to do the best that I can.