For all its terrible faults in one sense America is still the last best hope of mankind because it spells out so vividly the kind of happiness that most people actually want regardless of what they are told they ought to want.

You know American citizens I don't think ever thought that the right to the pursuit of happiness did not include the right to marry the person you love. But for a whole number of Americans gay Americans that happens to be true.

I think people should know more of Africa in terms of its joie de vivre its feeling for life. In spite of the images that one knows about Africa - the economic poverty the corruption - there's a joy to living and a happiness in community living together in community life which may be missing here in America.

We have a long heritage of freedom that defines America. We believe there is a Creator who blessed us with life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Happiness does not come from football awards. It's terrible to correlate happiness with football. Happiness comes from a good job being able to feed your wife and kids. I don't dream football I dream the American dream - two cars in a garage be a happy father.

If happiness truly consisted in physical ease and freedom from care then the happiest individual would not be either a man or a woman it would be I think an American cow.

I don't get a sense of American pride. I just get a sense that everyone is here battling the same thing - that around the world everybody's after the same thing just some minor piece of happiness each day.

How can you tell somebody whose is pursuing happiness that they're somehow not American when that was the very first promise that America made?

The pursuit of happiness which American citizens are obliged to undertake tends to involve them in trying to perpetuate the moods tastes and aptitudes of youth.

America has believed that in differentiation not in uniformity lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief it has advanced human happiness and it has prospered.

I don't understand why Europeans and South Americans can take more sophistication. Why is it that Americans need to hear their happiness major and their tragedy minor and as jazzy as they can handle is a seventh chord? Are they not experiencing complex emotions?

When I was waiting tables washing dishes or mowing lawns for money I never thought of myself as stuck in some station in life. I was on my own path my own journey an American journey where I could think for myself decide for myself define happiness for myself.

I remember a great America where we made everything. There was a time when the only thing you got from Japan was a really bad cheap transistor radio that some aunt gave you for Christmas.

In America the race goes to the loud the solemn the hustler. If you think you're a great writer you must say that you are.

What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest.

The essence of America - that which really unites us - is not ethnicity or nationality or religion - it is an idea - and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.

I do have my ducks in line if I want to do it but I'd love to see the Republicans pick somebody that was going to win and take over this country and frankly to use the expression 'Make America great again.'

Americans are blessed with great plenty we are a generous people and we have a moral obligation to assist those who are suffering from poverty disease war and famine.

From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent and even here in our own hemisphere our veterans have made the world a better place and America the great country we are today.

The '20s ended in an era of extravagance sort of like the one we're in now. There was a big crash but then the country picked itself up again and we had some great years. Those were the days when American believed in itself. I was happy and proud to be painting it.

The overwhelming majority of Americans are possessed of two great qualities a sense of humor and a sense of proportion.

Mr. Chairman delegates. I accept your nomination for President of the United States of America. I do so with humility deeply moved by the trust you have placed in me. It is a great honor. It is an even greater responsibility.

The principles that made this nation a great and powerful leader of the world have not lost their meaning. They never will. We know we can bring this country back. I'm Mitt Romney. I believe in America. And I'm running for president of the United States.

Like me the great majority of Americans wish both to preserve the traditional definition of marriage and to oppose bias and intolerance directed towards gays and lesbians.