Last year my boyfriend gave me a painting - a very personal one. I really prefer personal gifts or ones made by someone for me. Except diamonds. That's the exception to the rule.

My kids love it. I thought I was the coolest dad in the world when I got to be in a Bond film but 'Harry Potter' too? Well I think I qualify for a medal for exceptional parenting or something don't you?

The single outstanding exception was the broad yet precise mandate communicated by the General Assembly in 1946 to prepare as soon as possible the Charter of Human Rights which the San Francisco Conference had not had the time or the courage to draw up.

The qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker: an abiding passion for the task courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance.

I want to find the candidates who understand the principles of American exceptionalism and have the character the courage and the confidence to actually lead the greatest nation in the world.

As human beings we are vulnerable to confusing the unprecedented with the improbable. In our everyday experience if something has never happened before we are generally safe in assuming it is not going to happen in the future but the exceptions can kill you and climate change is one of those exceptions.

To not be modest about it you'll find that with only a couple of exceptions most of the musicians that I've worked with have done their best work by far with me.

It is always the best policy to speak the truth unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar.

I believe that history has shape order and meaning that exceptional men as much as economic forces produce change and that passe abstractions like beauty nobility and greatness have a shifting but continuing validity.

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attitude.