“The true test of one's mettle is how many times you will try before you give up.”

“Well, I guess I’m just not as special as you are. (Urian)No one knows their true mettle until it’s been tested. This is yours. Whether you pass or fail is entirely up to you. I can’t tell you what to do, but I know where I’ll be tonight. (Acheron)”

“How many times could you give up on someone you loved?”

“Do you know how many times I've read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to this kid? That is one fucked-up story. How is that a book for babies?”

“In diplomacy there are two kinds of problems: small ones and large ones. The small ones will go away by themselves and the large ones you will not be able to do anything about. The biggest challenges in your career will come from the temptation to act. The test of your mettle will be how nobly you surmount it.”

“The true test of a society isn't how many lies it has; it's how many it believes.”