"Since ancient times, people from throughout Asia have brought to Japan their talents, knowledge and energy, helping to lay the basis for Japan's existence as a country."

"Ultimately, all human activities have as their goal the realization of happiness. Why, then, have we ended up producing the opposite result? Could the underlying cause be our failure to correctly understand the true nature of happiness?"

"Dialogue and education for peace can help free our hearts from the impulse toward intolerance and the rejection of others."

"We are not merely passive pawns of historical forces; nor are we victims of the past. We can shape and direct history."

"On the contrary, the characteristic element of the present situation is that economic questions have finally and irrevocably invaded the domain of public life and politics."

"If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the Census Bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations at the request of President Roosevelt, and that's how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps."

"There is a strong tendency in the United States to rally round the flag and their troops, no matter how mistaken the war."

"President Clinton is going to embrace President Obama, as he should. They are working together. They're different kinds of people. Obama is cool, Clinton is a schmoozer. Both are great speakers. It's a great merging of the party."