You cannot write down how people are good; you just know it, and cannot get away from it.

The only redemptive feature of war is the brotherhood which it forges.

As George Orwell wisely observed a generation later, the only way swiftly to end a war is to lose it.

Lots of us when we're children believe 'oh well, if the world knew us as we really are, they'd know what wonderful, clever, brilliant, charming people we really are.'

I'm a wet liberal really, and always have been. But I'm sort of an aggressive wet liberal.

We're taking part in a divine comedy and we should realise that the play is always a comedy, in that we're all ultimately ridiculous.

If you can't get a job as a pianist in a brothel, you become a royal reporter.