I too have a certain idea of America. Moreover, I would not feel entitled to say that of any other country, except my own. This is not just sentiment, though I always feel ten years younger – despite the jet-lag – when I set foot on American soil: there is something so positive, generous, and open about the people – and everything actually works. I also feel, though, that I have in a sense a share of America.

There are still people in my party who believe in consensus politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors... I mean it.

Of course you have a duty to show the disfigurations of society as well as its more agreeable aspects. But if TV in the western world uses its freedom continually to show all that is worst in our society, while the centrally controlled television of the Communist world and the dictatorships show only what is judged advantageous to them and suppress everything else, how are the uncommitted to judge between us? How can they fail to misjudge if they view matters only through a distorted mirror?

I shan't be pulling the levers there but I shall be a very good back-seat driver.

If there is one instance in which a foreign policy I pursued met with unambiguous failure, it was my policy on German reunification.

The secret of happiness is to live within your income and pay your bills on time.

I have never knowingly made a non-controversial speech in my life.