I’ve always shied away from conventional wisdom, though I know the power of it.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.

The opportunity for brotherhood presents itself every time you meet a human being.

What if Barack Obama established a Presidential Advisory Committee that would meet once every couple of months, bringing together the former presidents for a conference in order to seek their collective wisdom? There is a wealth of experience in former presidents that generally goes untapped.

The war… was an unnecessary condition of affairs, and might have been avoided if forebearance and wisdom had been practiced on both sides.

Even when you have doubts, take that step. Take chances. Mistakes are never a failure – they can be turned into wisdom.