It's bad policy to speculate on what you'll do if a plan fails when you're trying to make a plan work. Condoleezza Rice More Quotes by Condoleezza Rice More Quotes From Condoleezza Rice I feel that we're dividing along class lines for the first time in our history. Now one thing that has happened in this reaction to globalization is that the elites are not respectful of the values of those who are ordinary citizens, so we seem to be dividing ourselves into ever-smaller identity groups, each with its own narrative, each with its own grievance, and that's a problem. Condoleezza Rice respectful problem identity Human beings are not perfect. Their institutions are not perfect, but they have to keep trying. And America has to help people keep trying. Condoleezza Rice perfect trying people You have to have a strong sense of your values and a strong sense of who you are, because there are a lot of events and a lot of people who will pull you in this direction or that direction. Condoleezza Rice events strong people We're all products of our environment, and I suspect that strength of will - the feeling, "I'm going to be able to do whatever you put in front of me" - is honed in an environment where not everything is easy. Ironically, growing up in that environment, you don't have a sense of aggrievement or entitlement. You just have a sense of overcoming. Condoleezza Rice growing-up overcoming feelings You can never ask others to do something you would not do. That is integrity. Condoleezza Rice asks integrity Well, there are many things, whenever you look back, that you would've done differently. We're all human. We do our best at the time. I really wish that we had passed a comprehensive immigration bill because that would've really helped our country. We came close, but we couldn't. Condoleezza Rice immigration wish country We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that right we will not compete because we won't believe that our people can compete, and we'll turn inward. We won't lead. That will be bad for the world. Condoleezza Rice educational strong believe Differences can be strength rather than a handicap. Condoleezza Rice handicaps differences life I'm saying there is no way that I will do this, because it's really not me. I know my strengths, and governor Romney needs to find someone who wants to run with him. There are many people who will do it very, very well, and I'll support the ticket. Condoleezza Rice support running people We're in a new world. We're in a world in which the possibility of terrorism, married up with technology, could make us very, very sorry that we didn't act. Condoleezza Rice technology sorry world We've organized human potential and have been better at using human potential better than any country on the face of the Earth. That's because we've recognized that our national creed, our national identity, is that it doesn't matter where you're from, it matters where you're going. You can come from hard circumstances and do great things. We've got to make that true for a whole variety of people who no longer feel that. Condoleezza Rice identity country people Out of struggle very often comes victory. Condoleezza Rice victory struggle I think my father thought I might be president of the United States. I think he would've been satisfied with secretary of state. I'm a foreign policy person and to have a chance to serve my country as the nation's chief diplomat at a time of peril and consequence, that was enough. Condoleezza Rice country father thinking I'm a great believer in the fact that as you get to know someone, it matters not what religious background they have, or what their nationality is, or where they came from. And I think that's how Americans really do relate to each other on a personal level. Condoleezza Rice levels religious thinking There is nothing better than being in a classroom with really, really brilliant students, and opening up new worlds to them. That's what I love doing. Condoleezza Rice opening-up students world My favorite quote is Thomas Jefferson`s "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time." Well, he was a slave-owner. But these institutions, while they weren't perfect at the time, did allow people to prosper and to continue to struggle and build toward them. That's what you need, is good institutions and I think people will eventually live up to them. Condoleezza Rice slave-owners struggle thinking When I went off to college, I was expecting to be a concert musician. In music school I heard all of these kids who were just unbelievable. And I understand that you can be very, very good, but there's something that separates very, very good from great, and I knew that I wasn't great. Condoleezza Rice college kids school The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly Saddam can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud. Condoleezza Rice marijuana gun clouds I hope that all of us who were fortunate enough to have benefited will put our time, our resources and our efforts into making sure that kids, particularly kids without means, have a way to achieve. Condoleezza Rice effort mean kids I laugh almost everyday. I have a good sense of humor, so I'm always finding something funny. Condoleezza Rice sense-of-humor everyday laughing
