And I hope that you in the Congress will understand that, dollar for dollar, security assistance contributes as much to global security as our own defense budget.

CNN: State of the Union Address

"I hope you will pardon my absence last year, and understand that I intended no personal insult to any of you, " he said.

CNN: Cheers, boos for McCain at conservative gathering

Whilst I suspect that you will not now agree with it, I hope you can understand my rationale for declining your request to voluntarily reduce my pension entitlement.

BBC: In full: Sir Fred Goodwin's letter