Quotes and paraphrases from my morning with Condolezza Rice!

Today's headlines and history's judgements are not the same.

Other Secretaries of State she kept pictures of in her office--Dean Acheson--(He served for more than twelve years at the U.S. State Department (1941-1953), first as assistant and under secretary of state and then as secretary of state during President Truman's second term. During these years Acheson was instrumental in forging the NATO alliance, the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan; in developing America's postwar posture towards Germany, the Soviet Union, and the People's Republic of China; and in diplomatic negotiations during the Korean Conflict.)

William Seward--(As soon as Abraham Lincoln won the election he offered Seward the post as his Secretary of State. Seward was instrumental in 1867 he purchased Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 in 1867.)

We should boldly defend our country.

It's not the powerful countries that are the most dangerous. This is why we reach out to help failing states to heal.

Every man, woman and child deserves to live in freedom.

One of the miracles of our Republic is the peaceful change of power.

Every dictator fears the moment when their people are no longer afraid of them. -- "Ceaucescu moment".

Non-negotiable element of democracy -- human dignity (George W. Bush)

China will not rise above the US because of the Creativity and innovation factor.

One of our problems is --the US has become apologetic.
Concerned about other nations' resentment of out military and economic power. But in the face
of disasters, they are generally glad when the US shows up.

It doesn't matter where you came from, it matters where you are going.

We must be mindful of the constant energy and renewal that comes from immigrants.

Cherish the transforming power of education, the learnedness of books. The transformative power of education includes the fact that Faith and reason go together. The essence of being human is to integrate your knowledge of what is with the faith of what might be.

Find your passion--it might not be your major. And, if you love to write, take more math. If you love math, take a writing class. Try something hard, study abroad, learn a new language.

Keep your optimism. It is a responsibility. Optimism helps us to eschew aggrievement and resist the sense of entitlement.

We can't control a circumstance, but we can control our reaction to the circumstance.

Read the biographies of the Founding Fathers--America should never have come to be, but it did.

Her new book--Extraordinary Ordinary People.