Why do you climb philosophical hills? Because they are worth climbing . . . There are no hills to go down unless you start from the top.

In the same period that the Americans have lived under one constitution our French friends notched up five. A Punch cartoon has a 19th century Englishman asking a librarian for a copy of the French constitution, only to be told: 'I am sorry Sir, we do not stock periodicals.'

Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't.

Is there conscience in the Kremlin? Do they ever ask themselves what is the purpose of life? What is it all for?... No. Their creed is barren of conscience, immune to the promptings of good and evil.

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

There is much to be said for trying to improve some disadvantaged people’s lot. There is nothing to be said for trying to create heaven on earth.

There are no personal sympathies in politics.