Valerie Jarrett

“When I finished law school, I had a 10-year plan. My plan was to go to a law firm, fall madly in love, have a baby by the time I was 30, make partner, and live happily ever after.”

“No child should be expelled from preschool. And so we are calling on school districts around the country to end that practice. That benefits every child.”

“If you're in a family unit... and the boys are having a particularly hard time, the impact on the entire family is troublesome.”

“Own your choices. Don't feel ashamed about what you're doing, trust yourself that you're a good parent, don't let anybody else shame you, and, certainly, don't shame yourself.”

“We want to make sure that we incentivize the health care system to be designed to provide you the best quality health care possible.”

“I will admit that I often spend weekends after each 'House of Cards' season is released binge-watching the show for hours. But I watch it because it is entertaining, not because it reminds m...”

“If left unchecked, global change will create violent conflict, torrential storms, shrinking coastlines, and irreversible catastrophe.”

“The question is, does the punishment fit the crime? So we're not saying that we shouldn't punish people. We're not talking about a society that tolerates lawlessness. We should be very tough...”

“One of the problems I have with the administration is that they're not tough enough. They are waiting for BP to say, 'Oh, we've got a new plan to stop the oil leak.' They need to stop it, co...”

“What do we do to just rebuild and focus on creating a big and inclusive tent, where we're focusing on making sure every child gets that fair shot, that every woman gets to compete on a level...”

“I don't want to just tell my story - I want to share the experiences, life lessons, and values that have shaped who I am and my ideas for the future.”

“When you are in local government, you are on the ground, and you are looking into the eyes and hearts of the people you are there to serve. It teaches you to listen; it teaches you to be exp...”

“The United States is a great, great country, but it's not the only country, and we can learn a great deal beyond our own shores.”

“When you compare the relatively modest tax that will ensue from prohibiting companies from receiving a subsidy and deducting that subsidy, the benefits dramatically outweigh the costs.”

“I am hopeful about our future and sure that, despite our challenges, engaging our government remains essential in the journey toward perfecting our union.”

“I still vividly remember the moment I let go of an embrace with my daughter on her college campus - that, in her opinion, probably lasted far too long. I left the most precious thing in my l...”

“What keeps me up at night is worrying about the moms who depend on ACA for all of the preventive care and not to mention prenatal care, the wellness visits, and the cost of delivery.”

“I wouldn't trade the best days of my life in the private sector for the worst days of my life in the public sector.”

“I know it may be hard to imagine given how broken and gridlocked our politics truly are, but from the White House to, yes, Congress, the government is filled with hard-working, idealistic pu...”

“My theory is this: Rather than having commentaries from the cheap seats, get involved and see what you can do. What can you do around your own community, within your own family, to try to im...”