One of the problems in the Ukrainian crisis is that very few Westerners know their history, or if they know it, what they learn is what we call the Russian version of history.

We face structural problems which go far beyond any short-term crisis,

I can't solve the problems of the world, but being the best person I can be will certainly lessen them.

I'm not saying the problems aren't serious, ... But this is not a humanitarian crisis in the sense that you have in Rwanda and the Balkans and Macedonia.

[Baton Rouge definitely needs some help with its infrastructure.] If we had capacity problems before, we can't even imagine it now, ... We're already at capacity, and we will grow more.

Don't duck the most difficult problems. That just insures that the hardest part will be left when you're most tired. Get the big one done - it's downhill from then on.