I respect the state workers and I respect their unions, but we simply can't afford to pay benefits and pensions that are out of line with economic reality.

The Declaration of Independence says when government fails, the people have the right to replace it. Well, New York State government has failed and the people have the right, indeed the people have the the people have the obligation, to act.

The essential job of government is to facilitate, not frustrate, job development.

I believe we need to attract a new generation of the best and brightest to public service and I believe that government can be a source of inspiration, not degradation.

New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance. The New York State government was at one time a national model. Now, unfortunately, it's a national disgrace. Sometimes, the corruption in Albany could even make Boss Tweed blush.

I believe women still face a glass ceiling that must be shattered.

I'm in politics. I'm in government, so nothing surprises me.

I've been not only articulating the dissatisfaction with Albany, I've been acting on it. I've been very aggressive in bringing public integrity cases and public corruption cases and bringing cases against sitting legislators.

I believe global warming and climate change are real threats to our planet.

I believe public education is the new civil rights battle and I support charter schools.

I am fiscally prudent and socially progressive. I believe in protecting a woman's right to choose. I believe in marriage equality.

There was never a war on poverty. Maybe there was a skirmish on poverty.

There is no dispute that Albany needs to be changed. There is no dispute that the current situation in Albany is untenable. Nobody knows that better than I do.

I am against the death penalty.

I believe Wall Street needs serious ongoing regulation.

I respect the state workers and I respect their unions, but we simply can't afford to pay benefits and pensions that are out of line with economic reality.

I know how bad Albany is. I know it better than most. I understand why people are angry. I'm angry. The question is going to be, how do you change Albany, what is the plan for change, and then how do you actually get it done?

I believe discrimination still exists in society and we must fight it in every form.

A governor can be a very good friend to people. A governor can be a formidable force.

Anyone who says there is not a change in weather patterns is denying reality.

As my Sicilian grandfather used to say, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, right?

Climate change is a controversial subject, right? People will debate whether there is climate change... that's a whole political debate that I don't want to get into. I want to talk about the frequency of extreme weather situations, which is not political.

Fear is a powerful weapon. It can excite and motivate, and it can get people to yell and to scream. But fear has never created a job.

Fight as hard as you can, and then understand there's going to have to be some amount of reasonable compromise.

Flooding damage is not customary for New York, especially downstate.

I am the government.

I don't know people who don't say, boy the government is working better now.

I don't think anyone would argue with the notion that there have been serious abuses on Wall Street.

I don't think bonuses are always bad.

I have a portrait of Saint Thomas More in my office.

I haven't lost my head yet.

I never thought I would be divorced.

I think naturally my orientation is from my father.

I think there's a lot to learn from Rockefeller on how to pass legislation.

I want to be the candidate placed on the ballot by the people, not the party.

I was elected to come to an incredibly dysfunctional capital and make the government work better, and that's what I'm doing.

I worked in the Clinton administration.

I'm a Queens boy at the end of the day.

I'm a harsh critic of the status quo.

I'm going to change everything you believe about HUD.

I'm governor of New York.

I'm not going to allow myself to be pushed politically.

I'm not going to raise taxes; I'm not going to have a wage increase for public employees.

I'm running for governor; I'm not running for a legislative office.

I'm sort of the Antichrist to the Conservative Party.

I'm very big on focus.

If I get sued for keeping people safe and getting people in from the cold because they were endangering themselves, then so be it.

If I weren't doing the politics, I wouldn't be doing my job.

If I'm breathing in 2016, I'll be happy.