"The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy."

"The first task in teaching is to bring to consciousness what the students already believe by virtue of their personal experiences about themselves and society."

"There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics."

"I think the future also will not belong to those who are cynical or those who stand on the sidelines."

"I don't know if there is a Democrat who necessarily doesn't believe health care is a right instead of privilege. There is a significant between us and the Republican Party on that issue."

"Where defining foreign policy as 'ethical' went wrong was that it implied that all decisions would be exclusive in every respect of any dealings with unethical regimes."

"Words, especially when yelled in anger, can be very damaging to a child's self-confidence. The child probably already feels bad enough just from seeing the consequences of his or her behavior. Our sons and daughters don't need more guilt and self-doubt heaped upon their already wounded egos."

"Money and fame made me believe I was entitled. I was wrong and foolish."