On using books rather than adoring them.

Amy Gutmann: I do have a personal philosophy. And I couldn’t describe it very briefly because that’s why I write books. My books are, in part, an extension of my personal philosophy. But if you emphasize the personal part of it, I can put it very briefly. I believe that every human being not only has a dignity, but has a mission to accomplish. And it’s not a pre-ordained mission. The reason we were given brains is we have to figure it out for ourselves. And we can’t figure it out once and for all. One of the people who inspired me, John Rawls, has written about a life plan. I don’t believe that everybody has a life plan. I believe that you have to seize opportunities. And you always have to know what your passions are, because you can’t do anything great without passion.