Incentives matter because they guide behavior in predictable ways.

臣民对主权者的义务，只要主权者能保护他们，就持续存在，否则就不再存在。

The difference between stupid and intelligent people—and this is true whether or not they are well-educated—is that intelligent people can handle subtlety.

I ask senior leaders to not do anything unless they're willing to do it for 10 years.

I think track records are very important. If you start trying to have a perfect one in a simple thing like honesty, you're well on your way to success in this world.