My goal after 9/11 was to take care of the families of the people we lost, and that was the most important thing.

The World Trade Center was the target for the world, and they hit the target.

New York is a spectacular place, and those who are jealous of the way we live our lives are always going to, you know, to strike out, and, you know, we're always going to be a target, sadly. London is going to be a target. You know, anywhere in the West, you're a target.

Without parents, you sort of lose the gravity that keeps your feet on the earth.

Be realistic and truthful - and tell Hong Kong businessmen honestly that they should go for long-term investments since it is unlikely money can be made in the short haul.

In January we start saving money, getting out of credit card debt, funding our retirement accounts, and we're doing wonderful. Then, every single year like clockwork, starting in November, all of you fall into this trap that says, 'I have to buy this gift... I can't show up at this party and not have something for everybody.'

We can go back to economic plans that are only designed to benefit the wealthiest among us, like Mitt Romney. Or we can keep moving forward with President Obama's vision for a growing economy that works for middle-class families in North Carolina and all across the country. For me, for North Carolina and for America, it's an easy choice.

The opera always loses money. That's as it should be. Opera has no business making money.