Anyone who supposed that when Margaret Thatcher left Number Ten she was going to take a Trappist vow did not know that formidable politician.

But the ability to articulate what you are doing, to be clear about it, and to stick to it is, I think, the essence of political leadership.

Hong Kong's people will get what they want, despite China's objections. Freedom invariably wins in the end.

It is curious that atheists have proved to be so intolerant of those who have a faith.

We have our own system, ... and journalists in our system are not put in prison for embarrassing the government by revealing things the government might not wish to have revealed. The important thing is that our system, under which journalists can write without fear or favor, should continue.

Those of us who had a perfectly happy childhood should be able to sue for deprivation of literary royalties.

I think that what most surprises anybody who goes into politics from even a modestly cerebral background is the vulgarity of much of the cut and thrust of politics.