Just to paint is great fun. The colours are lovely to look at and delicious to squeeze out. Matching them, however crudely, with what you see is fascinating and absolutely absorbing.

Things don't happen to me. I happen to things!

When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened

The worst mistake that a statesman can make is to promise victory and to see it dashed, the hopes dashed.

Curse ruthless time! Curse our mortality. How cruelly short is the allotted span for all we must cram into it!

I had a feeling once about mathematics - that I saw it all... but it was after dinner and I let it go.

If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.