The threat today is not that of the 1930s. It's not big powers going to war with each other. The ravages which fundamentalist political ideology inflicted on the 20th century are memories. The Cold war is over. Europe is at peace if not always diplomatically.

Diplomacy in general does not resolve conflicts. Wars end not due to peace processes but due to one side giving up.

The patience of the American public with dilatory diplomatic delays will be very limited.

I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.

I am endlessly fascinated that playing football is considered a training ground for leadership but raising children isn't. Hey it made me a better leader: you have to take a lot of people's needs into account you have to look down the road. Trying to negotiate getting a couple of kids to watch the same TV show requires serious diplomacy.

History is filled with tragic examples of wars that result from diplomatic impasse. Whether in our local communities or in international relations the skillful use of our communicative capacities to negotiate and resolve differences is the first evidence of human wisdom.

It was only when I finished the course and left my graduation diploma on the bus that I realised I'd become an actor.

The Israeli government has proved over the past year its commitment to peace both in words and deeds. By contrast the Palestinians are posing preconditions for renewing the diplomatic process in a way they have not done over the course of 16 years.

We tried to have diplomas without learning we tried to have jobs without work we tried to have houses without savings we tried to have government without responsibility.

One of my goals upon becoming Secretary of State was to take diplomacy out of capitals out of government offices into the media into the streets of countries.