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The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.

I've been an executive and a progressive executive with a record of accomplishments.

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business.

I acknowledged that I owed my presidency to People Power. I resolved during my presidency that I would in turn empower the people.

The presidency of the United States is an incredible thing. You have an ability to effectuate change at the highest level.

The whole purpose of maintaining your power in government is to make sure that you stay in government. You stay in government by finding out who is liable to be against you. To do that, you try and put your finger into every single pie that is available to you.

I feel that my role as a former president is probably superior to that of other presidents. Primarily because of the activism and the injection of working at the Carter Center, and in international affairs, and to some degree, domestic affairs, on energy conservation, on environment, and things of that kind.

I was the chief executive once, I've been there. My recommendation to anybody is don't go backwards.