Australians are decent people with the right instincts and they wish everybody well; but if all is not well, it is none of their business and they will not lose too much sleep over it. The shrug of the shoulders has become - only temporarily, I daresay - the national gesture of Australia.

The Americans are extremely gadget minded people and American gadgets have a peculiar characteristic: they work.

I asked many friends if Australian anti-intellectualism was still a living force and they all told me it was. If you are above average intelligence, hide this embarrassing fact.

The English are always ready to admire anything so long as they can queue up.

English humor resembles the Loch Ness Monster in that both are famous but there is a strong suspicion that neither exists.

Foreigners have souls; the English haven't.

To be extravagant you need money. True. But you do not need your own money.