Sam Rayburn

A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.

No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.

Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.

I studied international relations and economics at the University of Virginia. I paid my way by working as a bartender in the summer and at three part-time jobs during the year.

I do think my old fella wasn't much of a... I don't remember him ever being a 'dad' dad. He was too busy working. It was a hard life, man.

Under the previous regime of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, I was detained. So was my wife, Serkalem Fasil. She gave birth to our son in prison in 2005.