I have a relatively sunny spirit, and I always had the expectation that my path through life would be relatively sunny, no matter what happened. I have never allowed myself to be bitter.

For me, it is always important that I go through all the possible options for a decision.

When I'm stirring a saucepan, I don't say to myself, 'Now the chancellor is stirring a saucepan.'

I always wanted to know what I'd face next, even though that was maybe a bit detrimental to spontaneity. Structuring my life and avoiding chaos was more important.

The people in East Germany have lived through so many changes in the last 15 years like never before in the country, and they did this often with great enthusiasm. But in the West we also have a high degree of transformations.

Spying among friends is never acceptable.