During my lifetime most of the problems the world has faced have come, in one fashion or another, from mainland Europe and the solution from outside it.

A man may climb Everest for himself, but at the summit he plants his country's flag.

To me consensus seems to be - the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies in search of something in which no-one believes, but to which no-one objects - the process of avoiding the very issues that have to be solved, merely because you cannot get agreement on the way ahead. What great cause would have been fought and won under the banner "I stand for consensus"?

If a woman like Eva Peron with no ideals can get that far, think how far I can go with the ideals that I have.

How thin is the crust of order over the fires of human appetite and the lust for naked power.

To me consensus seems to be - the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies in search of something in which no-one believes, but to which no-one objects.

No great goal was ever easily achieved.