The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope.

• No nation can meet the world's challenges alone.
• I feel like I have had the most amazing life in my public service.
• The challenge is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.
• We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society.
• Now I know that Wal-Mart's policies do not reflect the best way of doing business and the values that I think are important in America.
• I am someone who hopes for the best and prepares for the worst.
• I am neither frustrated nor planning anything other than being the best Secretary of State I could be.
• There is no doubt that America remains the premier political, economic, military power in the world, and I both expect and count on it remaining so, because I think that's certainly in our best interest but also the best interests of the world.
• In almost every profession - whether it's law or journalism, finance or medicine or academia or running a small business - people rely on confidential communications to do their jobs. We count on the space of trust that confidentiality provides. When someone breaches that trust, we are all worse off for it.
• I believe that the rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21st century.