Jim Leach

Politics has high and low moments. Sometimes it brings out the better angels of our nature; sometimes baser instincts.

Civility is not about dousing strongly held views. Its about making sure that people are willing to respect other perspectives.

Public decision-making does not lend itself to certitude.

The majority of U.S. high school students don't know within 50 years when the Civil War occurred.

Civility is not about dousing strongly held views. It's about making sure that people are willing to respect other perspectives.

Our culture is more shaped by the arts and humanities than it often is by politics.

The trust has broken down. It will take some time to change attitudes and attitudes are going to be needed to develop trust

There's probably a little greater case for pessimism than optimism. But I do not rule out optimism.

America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.

I have a long-term interest in the humanities.

I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, can lead to violence.

History provides a sense of where we've been and lessons that can be taken forward.

It is hard to cement any relations with any country based on promises that may not be deliverable.

A government of, by and for the people is obligated to conduct the nation's business in a manner that respects dissent.

There are words bandied about that are being misused - words like 'socialism,' words like 'communism,' words like 'fascism.'

If you read literature, you put yourself in somebody else's shoes. You learn from great figures in literature.

America is very decentralized in how it supports the humanities, unlike European countries where virtually everything stems from the central government.

I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.

The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.

The hallmark of our times is change and acceleration, but we have to provide the history.

Civility is not simply about manners.