the English don't go in for imagination: imagination is considered to be improper if not downright alarmist.

In more than half the nations of our world, torture certifies that the form of government is tyranny. Only tyranny, no matter how camouflaged, needs and employs torturers. Torture has no ideology.

All amateur travellers have experienced horror journeys, long or short, sooner or later, one way or another. As a student of disaster, I note that we react alike to our tribulations: frayed and bitter at the time, proud afterwards. Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.

Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.

People may correctly remember the events of twenty years ago (a remarkable feat), but who remembers his fears, his disgusts, his tone of voice? It is like trying to bring back the weather of that time.

All politicians are bores and liars and fakes. I talk to people.

I know enough to know that no woman should ever marry a man who hated his mother.