Remember the 'Parable of the Talents' in the New Testament? Christ exhorts us to be the best we can be by developing our skills and abilities, by succeeding in all our tasks and endeavors. What better description can there be of capitalism?

Gentlemen, if we don't cut spending we will be bankrupt. Yes, the medicine is harsh, but the patient requires it in order to live. Should we withhold the medicine? No. We are not wrong. We did not seek election and win in order to manage the decline of a great nation.

No woman in my time will be prime minister or chancellor or foreign secretary - not the top jobs. Anyway, I wouldn't want to be prime minister; you have to give yourself 100 percent.

We were told our campaign wasn't sufficiently slick. We regard that as a compliment.

No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.

I don't think there will be a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime.

Platitudes? Yes, there are platitudes. Platitudes are there because they are true.