[observation, 2015] The idea that we could fashion a democracy in Iraq seemed to me unrealistic.

Nineteen hijackers, using commercial airliners as guided missiles to incinerate three thousand men, women and children, was perhaps the most horrific single unknown unknown America has experienced.

When you say, 'How can you know?'. the answer is, you can't. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could see around corners - have our imagination anticipate every conceivable thing that could happen, and then - from that full array and spectrum - pick out the ones that will happen?

[at a press conference, April 11, 2003] Stuff happens. But it is a fundamental misunderstanding to see those images, over and over and over again, of some boy walking out with a vase and say, 'Oh, my goodness, you didn't have a plan'.

[on the war in Iraq] I don't do quagmires.

I think all of us have a sense if we imagine the kind of world we would face if the people who bombed the mess hall in Mosul, or the people who did the bombing in Spain, or the people who attacked the United States in New York, shot down the plane over Pennsylvania and attacked the Pentagon, the people who cut off peoples' heads on television to intimidate, to frighten indeed the word 'terrorized' is just that. Its purpose is to terrorize, to alter behavior, to make people be something other than that which they want to be.

My family originates from northern Germany. People there are well known for their direct and clear manner of speaking.

We acted in Iraq because we saw the evidence in a dramatic new light - through the prism of our experience on 9/11.

Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me because, as we know, there are known knowns - there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns - that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know.

(In response to a reporter asking him why he is wearing a suit and tie at a press conference held at President Bush's ranch) "I don't own any casual clothes. Next question, please."