When the gap between ideal and real becomes too wide, the system breaks down.

I want the reader to turn the page and keep on turning to the end.

To put away one's own original thoughts in order to take up a book is a sin against the Holy Ghost.

Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they do not need citing; 2) excessive ambition, such as Athens' attempted conquest of Sicily in the Peloponnesian War, Philip II's of England via the Armada, Germany's twice-attempted rule of Europe by a self-conceived master race, Japan's bid for an empire of Asia; 3) incompetence or decadence, as in the case of the late Roman empire, the last Romanovs and the last imperial dynasty of China; and finally 4) folly or perversity.

Human behavior is timeless.

No more distressing moment can ever face a British government than that which requires it to come to a hard, fast and specific decision.

To be right and overruled is not forgiven to persons in responsible positions.