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I'm not always the most diplomatic person.

I have a very balanced posture about the political situation in my country.

My position does not give me the liberty to exclude anything, but my mood tells me there will not be violence.

I am in favor of a foreign policy that will cultivate relations of peace with all nations, and I will never give my influence, either as a private citizen or a public servant, for war, so long as it can be honorably avoided.

I won't let any ambassador have a say about my foreign travels.

I will deal with the politicians in a political way and with the nonpoliticians in a nonpolitical way.

I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief.

I am an undiplomatic diplomat.

It's a necessary quality of a diplomat or a politician that he will compromise. Uncompromising politicians or diplomats get you into the most terrible trouble.

I want no presidency; I want to do my duty. No denunciations here, or out of this House, can deflect me a single inch from going directly at what I aim, and that is, the good of the country. I have always acted upon it, and I will always act upon it.