My definition of a decent society is one that first of all takes care of its losers, and protects its weak. What I see in my country, progressively over these years, is that the rich have got richer, the poor have got poorer. The rich have become indifferent through a philosophy of greed, and the poorer have become hopeless because they're not properly cared for. That's actually something that is happening in many Western societies. Your own, I am told, is not free from it.

Fools, most linguists. Damn all to say in one language, so they learn another and say damn all in that.

I had two experiences of criminality: one was my conman father, the other was teaching at Eton

Jesus Christ only had twelve, you know, and one of them was a double.

The Secret Intelligence Service I knew occupied dusky suites of little rooms opposite St James's Park Tube station in London.

I grew up in a completely bookless household. It was my father's boast that he had never read a book from end to end.

I don't know whether it's age or maturity, but I certainly find myself committed more and more to the looser forms of Western democracy at any price.