Henry Paulson

I'm a straightforward person. I like to be direct with people.

I think all governments engage in intelligence gathering vis-a-vis other governments.

I never once considered that it was appropriate to put taxpayer money on the line in resolving Lehman Brothers.

I have relied on prayer for health care all of my life.

I didn't get the charm gene.

Every global concern - economic, environmental or security-related - can be addressed more effectively when the U.S. and China work together.

Economic growth and environmental protection are not at odds. They're opposite sides of the same coin if you're looking at longer-term prosperity.

China saves too much, produces too much, sells too much to Americans and consumes too little.

China needs a currency that reflects underlying economic fundamentals.

China and the U.S. are the two largest importers of oil. They are the two largest emitters of carbon.

Buying a home today is a complex process, but that in no way excuses home buyers from their obligation for due diligence.

As a Christian Scientist, I don't go to doctors and get diagnoses.

Anticompetitive practices hurt Chinese private firms nearly as much as foreign ones.

A Fed loan to Lehman Brothers would not have prevented a bankruptcy.

In just about every area of society, there's nothing more important than ethics.

I've always said, 'I don't want to be irrelevant.'

Even if you don't have the authorities - and frankly I didn't have the authorities for anything - if you take charge, people will follow

There is no way to stabilize the markets other than through government intervention.

I believe that the root cause of every financial crisis, the root cause, is flawed government policies

I see the underlying economy as being very healthy,

The worst is likely to be behind us

I don't see (subprime mortgage market troubles) imposing a serious problem. I think it's going to be largely contained.

India is a vibrant nation whose strength lies in its commitment to equal rights and to speech, religious and economic freedoms that enrich the lives of all citizens. India is not only the world's largest democracy; it is also a secular, pluralistic society committed to inclusive growth.

For market discipline to constrain risk effectively, financial institutions must be allowed to fail. Under optimal financial regulatory and financial system infrastructures, such a failure would not threaten the overall system.