Eric Greitens

I'd finished a dissertation, writing about how international humanitarian organizations worked with kids in war zones and then I made this transition from the academic world to officer candidate school and to the SEAL teams. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

I think there are a couple of key lessons that come from Judaism that shaped my life. One of them is the idea we have a duty to repair the world, and all of us should play a role in our lives in trying to repair the world and to make the world better for the next generation.

I believe that you have to live a life that involves both courage and compassion.

We have a culture of political corruption in Jefferson City. We have corrupt politicians, well-paid lobbyists and special-interest insiders taking the state in the wrong direction.

You don't reduce crime by taking away guns from law-abiding citizens.

If you care about people, then you're willing to act not just with compassion, but you're also willing to act with courage.

What matters is what you do. And this runs counter to what a lot of the culture teaches people about putting feelings first. By contrast, resilient people focus not on what they intend, but on what they achieve.

If you want to start or grow a business in the state of Missouri and hire more people with good jobs, I will be your friend and ally.

Our state's world famous motto, 'Show me,' reminds us that Missourians don't much value big talk.

Like the plague, opioids kill the young, the old, the healthy, the sick, the virtuous and the sinful.

It's only in the act of pushing yourself, challenging yourself to make a contribution to your community, to your family, to your country, that you actually realize your full self, you know?

I actually think it's very important that the Navy SEAL community stay out of politics.