When I write I have no loyalty except to historical truth as I see it and care no more about British achievements and mistakes than any other.

The greatest problem about old age is the fear that it may go on too long.

Like most of those who study history, he (Napoleon III) learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones.

One of the penalties of being president of the United States is that you must subsist for four years without drinking anything except Californian wine.

Perfect soldier, perfect gentleman never gave offence to anyone not even the enemy.

Lenin was the first to discover that capitalism 'inevitably' caused war; and he discovered this only when the First World War was already being fought. Of course he was right. Since every great state was capitalist in 1914.

There is nothing nicer than nodding off while reading. Going fast asleep and then being woken by the crash of the book on the floor, then saying to yourself, well it doesn't matter much. An admirable feeling.