"The economics profession advances by one confusing financial disaster at a time."

"'Reinventing the Bazaar,' by John McMillan, is a great and fun introduction to the wild variety and importance of markets throughout history and around the world. I finally understood how a Middle Eastern souk actually works economically and how to compare that to modern-day telecom-spectrum auctions. I love that book."

"Economics is all about consumption. People either spend money now or they use financial instruments - like bonds, stocks and savings accounts - so they can spend more later."

"Most rich countries have reported increases in happiness as they become richer."

"If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship."

"As a designer, the mission with which we have been charged is simple: providing space at the right cost."

"Detainee policy in this war is hard, it's complicated, but we must get it right. We would be better off as a nation if we could close Gitmo safely and start a new prison that he could use that the world would see as a better way to doing business."

"You have to find out what's right for you, so it's trial and error. You are going to be all right if you accept realistic goals for yourself."