I have a five year-old son and a three year-old daughter. I want my son to have a choice to contribute fully in the workforce or at home. And I want my daughter to have the choice to not just succeed but to be liked for her accomplishments.

I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president - with the possible exceptions of Johnson FDR and Lincoln - just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history. But you know but when it comes to the economy we've got a lot more work to do. And we're gonna keep on at it.

The mindset of chasing that next #1 record doesn't exist for me anymore. It's more about being a well-rounded entertainer than being a pop artist. Obviously it would be wonderful to have a hit record but I don't base my happiness on that anymore. It's about the accomplishment of a project that satisfies me. I just want to enjoy the ride.

High moral character is not a precondition for great moral accomplishments.

The great accomplishment of Jobs's life is how effectively he put his idiosyncrasies - his petulance his narcissism and his rudeness - in the service of perfection.

Health care reform the marquee legislative accomplishment of the Obama administration's first term was passed before we entered the world of divided government.

Let the future tell the truth and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs the future for which I have really worked is mine.

The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success but rather those days when out of dejection and despair you feel rise in you a challenge to life and the promise of future accomplishments.

I had no accomplishments except surviving. But that isn't enough in the community where I came from because everybody was doing it. So I wasn't prepared for America where everybody is glowing with good teeth and good clothes and food.

But with the right kind of coaching and determination you can accomplish anything and the biggest accomplishment that I feel I got from the film was overcoming that fear.