British diplomats, constantly exposed to American political-ethical rhetoric, find their professional skills tested to the limits by the need to keep a straight face. For illustrations of what I mean, study the photographs of the expressions worn by Mr Douglas Hurd at any international conference involving all the Western allies.

Human nature doesn't include all human beings. There are human beings who are indifferent to politics, religion, virtually anything.

A good man giving bad advice is more dangerous than a nasty man giving bad advice.

You are not an agnostic.....You are just a fat slob who is too lazy to go to Mass.

Nothing does more to activate Christian divisions than talk about Christian unity.

The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail... You can safely appeal to the UN in the comfortable certainty that it will let you down.

Irishness is not primarily a question of birth or blood or language; it is the condition of being involved in the Irish situation, and usually of being mauled by it.