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.

In the last century the Arab thinker Jamal al-Afghani wrote: 'Every Muslim is sick and his only remedy is in the Koran.' Unfortunately the sickness gets worse the more the remedy is taken.

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

Man watches his history on the screen with apathy and an occasional passing flicker of horror or indignation.

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

You can safely appeal to the UN in the comfortable certainty that it will let you down.

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