It has been said that there is no fool like an old fool, except a young fool. But the young fool has first to grow up to be an old fool to realize what a damn fool he was when he was a young fool.

There might be 1 finger on the trigger, but there will be 15 fingers on the safety catch.

After long experience of politics, I have never found that there is any inhibition caused by ignorance as regards criticism.

Britain's most useful role is somewhere between bee and dinosaur.

One nanny said, "Feed a cold"; she was a neo-Keynesian. Another nanny said, "Starve a cold"; she was a monetarist.

Too many people live too much in the past. The past must be a springboard, not a sofa.

I have learned that in all negotiations nothing matters except the will to reach agreement.