I think that whenever a nation feels itself to be at is zenith, it starts to feel a creeping sense of anxiety.

If long hitting is the thing that causes the spectators to whistle through their teeth in wonderment, why not play tournaments up and down an expansive stadium?

You find out what you think by talking to yourself.

Politics? Boring? Politics is history on the wing! What other sphere of human activity calls forth all that is most noble in men's souls, and all that is most base? Or has such excitement? Or more vividly exposes our strengths and weaknesses? Boring? You might as well say that life itself is boring!

I've always just wanted to earn my living by writing. The best thing is to go into my study in the morning and stay there and put words together.

History is too important to be left to the historians.

Humans have changed little over time. We think we've invented the modern world but they were making better speeches 2,000 years ago and grappling with issues of empire and terrorism.