When human beings live together, conflict is inevitable. War is not.

So long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, so will the temptation to threaten others with overwhelming military force.

A healthy vision of the future is not possible without an accurate knowledge of the past.

We are not merely passive pawns of historical forces; nor are we victims of the past. We can shape and direct history.

Much as there are things about our own life stories that we can learn only from the systematic study of our dreams, there are things about the human condition that we can learn only from a systematic study of literature.

I studied secondary education.

But take comfort in that I die at peace with the world and myself - not afraid.

I actually support President Obama's initiatives on early childhood. He has appointed me as a commissioner to consult his administration on educational excellence for Hispanics in the U.S. We try to find ways to improve the education system for Hispanics in America, to achieve excellence.