A Foreign Secretaryand this applies also to a prospective Foreign Secretaryis always faced with this cruel dilemma. Nothing he can say can do very much good, and almost anything he may say may do a great deal of harm. Anything he says that is not obvious is dangerous; whatever is not trite is risky. He is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion.

It is the duty of Her Majesty's government neither to flap nor to falter.

The only quality needed for an MP is the ability to write a good letter.

Revolt by all means, but only on one issue at a time. To do more would be to confuse the whips.

To be alive at all involves some risk.

If you don't believe in God, all you have to believe in is decency. Decency is very good. Better decent than indecent. But I don't think it's enough.

Power? It's like a Dead Sea fruit. When you achieve it, there is nothing there.