2000s

• We have a high standard of living. … In Norway, we've tripled our income since 1970. In the rest of western Europe, income has merely doubled.
  • Interview in Torgrim Eggen (2001), as quoted in "At the Top: An interview with Jens Stoltenberg", Scanorama.

2010s

• But the answer to the attacks must be more democracy and more openness. Otherwise, those who were behind them will have achieved their goals.
  • Men svaret på angrepene må være mer demokrati og mer åpenhet. I motsatt fall vil de som sto bak, ha oppnådd sine mål.
  • Following the attacks of 22 July 2011 in Oslo and Utøya
  • As quoted in "Statsministeren: – Svaret er enda mer åpenhet" (23 July 2011), DT (in Norwegian)

• Reconquer the streets, the markets – the public spaces, with the same message of opposition: We are devastated, but we will not give up. With torches and roses, we deliver this message to the world: We do not let fear break us. And we do not let the fear of fear silence us.
  • City Hall Square speech (25 July 2011), as quoted in the Aftenposten

• Evil can kill a person, but never conquer a nation.
  • City Hall Square speech (25 July 2011), as quoted in the BBC

• Although I am not a member of any denomination, I do believe that there is something greater than man. Some call it God, others call it something else. For me, it's about understanding that we humans are small in relation to nature, in relation to the powers that are bigger and stronger than man can ever comprehend. I find that in a church.
  • As quoted in "Man må tro at det nytter" (31 December 2011), by Erik Fossen and Håvard Bjelland, BT (in Norwegian)

• I like the United States in many ways. I like the people, I like the atmosphere. I like to travel around also when I am able to get out of Washington or New York, and I like the food. Especially the meat. The steak is excellent, and I had a very good steak in New York a couple of days ago and you can't get that kind of steak in Europe, so big and so tender, that's one of the reasons I like to come to the United States.
  • Interview with Aroop Mukharji