One of the ideals [Margaret Thatcher] grew up with was self-denial and postponement of gratification, and yet she went about to create a greedy, short-term society. It is a paradox.

Beneath every history, another history.

To me, Hillary [Clinton] looks alright. She looks like the kind of woman I admire. She doesn't seem to have distorted her essential nature.

Some of these things are true and some of them lies. But they are all good stories.

Truth can break the gates down, truth can howl in the street; unless truth is pleasing, personable and easy to like, she is condemned to stay whimpering at the back door.

I would have been a disaster as a career politician. I would never have toed a party line.

When you become published and become a reviewer, piles of books come along and you are pushed by fashion and what you are commissioned to do.