There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the establishment and nothing more corrupting.

History is not another name for the past, as many people imply. It is the name for stories about the past.

George VI in the conventional parlance was a Good King who sacrificed his life to his sense of duty. If we are to have monarchs it would be hard to find a better one.

No matter what political reasons are given for war, the underlying reason is always economic.

All other forms of history - economic history, social history, psychological history, above all sociology - seem to me history with the history left out.

Bismarck fought 'necessary' wars and killed thousands, the idealists of the twentieth century fight 'just' wars and kill millions.

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