And my dad drilled it in my head you know 'If you want it bad enough and you're willing to make the sacrifices you can do it. But first you have to believe in yourself.
My dad is still Christian Scientist. My mom's not and I'm not. But I believe in God and that there's a higher power and an intelligence that's bigger than us and that we can rely on. It's not just us thinking we are the ones in control of everything. That idea gives me support.
I've decided to run for the U.S. Senate because I believe Wisconsin families need a senator who will work hard to deliver results for the middle class - a leader with the courage to do what's right no matter how tough the odds or how powerful the special interests we have to fight.
As long as the opposition believes the world will stand with Ukraine's democrat reformers they will have the leverage and the courage to establish a legitimate republic under the leadership of Viktor Yushchenko.
There is a measure needing courage to adopt and enforce it which I believe to be of virtue sufficient to redeem the nation in this its darkest hour: one only I know of no other to which we may rationally trust for relief from impending dangers without and within.
I'm a writer of faith who worries about the intolerance of religion. I look at the past and fear we haven't learned from it. I believe that humanity is capable of evil as well as great acts of courage and goodness. I have hope. Deep down I believe in the human spirit although sometimes that belief is shaken.
You take a number of small steps which you believe are right thinking maybe tomorrow somebody will treat this as a dangerous provocation. And then you wait. If there is no reaction you take another step: courage is only an accumulation of small steps.
I think that the romantic impulse is in all of us and that sometimes we live it for a short time but it's not part of a sensible way of living. It's a heroic path and it generally ends dangerously. I treasure it in the sense that I believe it's a path of great courage. It can also be the path of the foolhardy and the compulsive.
When you really believe in God it gives you a courage a confidence that enables you to meet the things coming.
A statesman wants courage and a statesman wants vision but believe me after six months' experience he wants first second third and all the time - patience.