As a child I found railroad stations exciting, mysterious, and even beautiful, as indeed they often were.

My grandfather used to say, "Learn to like art, music and literature deeply and passionately. They will be your friends when things are bad". It is true: at this time of year, when days are short and dark, and one hardly dares to open the newspapers, I turn, not vainly either, to the great creators of the past for distraction, solace and help.

The Second World War took place not so much because no one won the First, but because the Versailles Treaty did not acknowledge this truth.

A Stalin functionary admitted, Innocent people were arrested: naturally - otherwise no one would be frightened. If people were arrested only for specific misdemeanours, all the others would feel safe and so become ripe for treason.

Long periods of recession, which tend to be self-perpetuating, are usually ended by war, or by preparations for it.

Conservation of energy. Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down.

I've been having an affair, but I still believe in family values.