You can't grow up without taking a few knocks on the way. All parents know that, but children when they're growing up, they take some knocks, and nasty knocks sometimes if they've been too protected.

The idea that the West was economically successful because of slavery, it's just nonsense.

The West has given the world the symphony, and the novel.

All religions are sick men's dreams, false - demonstrably false - and pernicious.

I think forgiveness plays a very important part in Western society and it comes from the Judeo Christian heritage.

Slavery had very little to do with the economic success of the West. Just look at the facts and figures and how much slavery actually contributed to development.

We cannot hope to win the ideological battle against Islam without criticism of Islam, it is essential that we continue to criticize Islam.