As prime minister, I worked closely with Ronald Reagan for eight of the most important years of all our lives. We talked regularly both before and after his presidency. And I have had time and cause to reflect on what made him a great president.

As a motive for terror, religion has more often than not required a good deal of lubrication by lucre.

I don't think any woman in power really has a happy life unless she's got a large number of women friends ... because you sometimes must go and sit down and let down your hair with someone you can trust totally.

Rogue states never turn out to be quite the pariahs they are deemed. They are only able to cause, or at least threaten to cause, mayhem because they enjoy the covert support - usually by means of technology transfers - of one or more major powers within the charmed circle of global 'good guys'.

All attempts to destroy democracy by terrorism will fail. It must be business as usual.

It used to be about trying to do something. Now it's about trying to be someone.

The larger the slice taken by government, the smaller the cake available for everyone.