It's so easy for propaganda to work, and dissent to be mocked.

One's life has many compartments.

I'll tell you what I really think about politicians. The other night I watched some politicians on television talking about Vietnam. I wanted very much to burst through the screen with a flame thrower and burn their eyes out and their balls off and then inquire from them how they would assess the action from a political point of view.

Occasionally it does hit me, the words on a page. And I still love doing that, as I have for the last 60 years.

When you lead a life of scholarship you can't be bothered with the humorous realities, you know, tits, that kind of thing.

I can't really articulate what I feel.

The Companion of Honour I regarded as an award from the country for 50 years of work - which I thought was okay.