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.

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.

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

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

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

The United Nations cannot do anything, and never could; it is not an animate entity or agent. It is a place, a stage, a forum and a shrine... a place to which powerful people can repair when they are fearful about the course on which their own rhetoric seems to be propelling them.