Although it is the biggest time-waster in office life, you must never underrate the importance of the memo. You will be judged by the volume of your paper work.

People always assume that bachelors are single by choice and spinsters because nobody asked them. It never enters their heads that poor bachelors might have worn the knees of their trousers out proposing to girls who rejected them or that a girl might deliberately stay unmarried.

The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners. The Scottish upper classes, in particular, have that shell-shocked look that probably comes from banging their heads on low beams leaping to their feet whenever a woman comes into the room. Aristocrats are also deeply male chauvinist, and ... on the whole they tend to be reactionary.

Go to lots of interviews, at least one a month even when you don't need a job, to keep in training for when you do.

Without doubt, keep a diary. From the day you're born, keep a diary, because we all forget things so quickly.

I think we ought to have a kindness year, or a kindness century.

Meetings ... are rather like cocktail parties. You don't want to go, but you're cross not to be asked.