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

I think if the monarchy were removed tomorrow, it wouldn't have a huge effect on the national mind-set.

You learn nothing about men by snubbing them and crushing their pride. You must ask them what it is they can do in this world, that they alone can do.

When narratives fracture, when words fail, I take consolation from the part of my life that always works: the stationery order. The mail-order stationery people supply every need from royal blue Quink to a dazzling variety of portable hard drives.

I think I would have been a reasonably good lawyer. I have a faculty for making sense of mountains of information.

You don't get on by being original. You don't get on by being bright. You don't get on by being strong. You get on by being a subtle crook.

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.