Susan Rice Quotes

Well, Nigeria has played a constructive role in peacekeeping in various parts of West Africa. But unless and until Nigeria itself is democratic and respects human rights, it too may well be a source of much greater instability as political repression limits the ability of the people of Nigeria to achieve their full potential.

For the United States to recommit itself to the obligation that we undertook in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that many other states undertook, which was to work towards disarmament and the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, is something that manifestly serves our national security interests.

Progress is the product of human agency.

Things get better because we make them better. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when we fail to take risks or seize opportunities.

I have been to Libya and walked the streets of Benghazi myself.

The larger picture here is that a North Korea with nuclear weapons adds to the larger proliferation risk.

I would rather be alone and a loud voice for action than be silent.

I am a team player - and that is what you need to be an effective point guard.

You gotta see the court, you gotta set up the play, and you gotta let others execute for the most part. I don't throw elbows for the sake of throwing elbows, but if somebody throws one at me and it's necessary to respond in kind, I suppose I can if I have to.

Once you've learned to study in a bathing suit on the grass with muscled men throwing frisbees over your head, you can accomplish almost anything.

I have no regrets whatsoever that I have acted in a way to advance my country's interests

One can't erase the tremendous burden of apartheid in 10 years, 20 years, I believe, even 30 years.

I was very happy in my job at the United Nations.

We have been very clear that Israel has an undeniable right to self-defense and that the rockets that it has faced coming out of Gaza incessantly, the tunnels that are legion and are being used to infiltrate into Israel are very legitimate security concerns, for which they have an obligation - against which they have an obligation to act.

Change doesn't happen with people sitting on their behinds, getting lazy.

We are safer if there are not nuclear arsenals around the planet that can be utilized, stolen, sold to terrorists and others who would do harm.

If we are to garner sustained U.S. domestic support for future trade agreements, we have to make sure those Americans who have suffered as a consequence of past agreements have an effective social safety net, adjustment assistance, opportunities for retraining and new job creation that enables all Americans to thrive.

We must be honest in acknowledging that neither Germany nor the US has the luxury of assuming that we can skate by on half-measures in Afghanistan and Pakistan and not risk suffering the consequences.

I'm apologetic when I feel like I've made a mistake.

And when I have done a disservice to myself or someone else. But I don't feel a need to apologize for doing or saying something that I think needs to be said, just because it may not sit comfortably with somebody else.

President Obama has got the most moderate temperament.

Iran's arms exports to the murderous Assad regime in Syria are of particular concern. As the Panel of Experts has concluded, Syria is now the central party to illicit Iranian arms transfers.

President Obama is perhaps the smartest person I've ever worked with.

We also have begun to assess with the Ukrainians the scope of their larger security assistance requirements. We have had teams out making that assessment with the Ukrainians. And we have already provided various forms of equipment and support to Ukraine.

Americans understand that our security is enhanced when the United States is trusted and respected in the world.

The United States share of the African market it's very small, it's only about 8 percent.

As Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak have repeatedly said, the intelligence and security relationship between the United States and Israel at present is unprecedented. It has never been stronger.

I am very aware of being black and female because that's what I am.

We're well aware, and we have been for a long time, that there is a real threat from adversaries, state actors, non-state actors, to hack us, influence us, destroy stuff through cyber means. Because cyber threat has been understood for a while, it's longstanding, it's a concern.

One of the things I love about negotiations is that you have to be able to play it like an orchestra, different instruments for different circumstances. There's sweetness, and encouragement, and cajoling. There's pressure, there's drama, there's ultimatums.

If you want change, you have to make it. If we want progress we have to drive it.

President Obama is an extraordinary person to work with and for.

I have a range, and I'd much rather do things the nice way than the hard way, but sometimes you have to use all the tools at your disposal.

I think most Americans understand that we went through a period in which American leadership was judged quite critically internationally.

I've been very lucky to have had a supportive family, a great education, enormous opportunity and challenge.

I am blunt when I want to be.

The Russians are clearly already engaged in a proxy war against the government of Ukraine. And that is something that we and the rest of the world have actively condemned and sanctioned Russia already heavily for, particularly the United States, as we have imposed now meaningful, tough sanctions in critical sectors, including the defense sector, the financial sector, and the energy sector.

If you're trying to get something done, there will always be people who don't want to see you get something done, or who have a stake in the status quo. And if they approach that through ad hominem criticism of you, you've got to have enough confidence and thickness of skin to be able to endure.

You can't sit on the sidelines and read your iPhone and be on social media and expect everything to be cool. You have to be part of this.

I like to think that with me, what you see is what you get, and you can like or dislike it, it's up to you, but it's straight. That's something that I pride myself on.

Bashar al-Assad and those who still stand by him are now responsible for the deaths of more than 20,000 in Syria.

Focus on something that stirs your soul, it's hard to excel at anything that you don't love.

I have to separate my personal concerns from my professional responsibilities.

What we have done is when the threat has been directed at the United States, i.e., the terrorist threat from ISIL or Al-Qaeda in Syria, is to go after them.

The U.S. cannot go it alone simply when it is convenient.

We have to know who we are and know what we believe.

I am blunt sometimes; I am diplomatic sometimes; I am all things in between. Abrasive, you know, I guess it's in the eye of the beholder.

I spend every day up at the United Nations where I have to interact with 192 other countries. I know how well the United States is viewed.

It's in our interest to continue with the Paris Agreement and to deal with climate change as the real threat it actually is.

When my son was a mere three months old, I started working at the State Department. I was not only the youngest Assistant Secretary of State but I was also a breastfeeding mother. I'm the first to admit that this felt crazy at times, and the balancing act is never ever easy. But my two kids are the most wonderful things that have ever happened to me.

The youth thing never really, from my vantage point, slowed me down. I think the harder audience for me to gain acceptance from was the career diplomatic corps that worked with and for me in the Africa Bureau.

All of us as citizens have to be consumers and judges.