For a few spotty years, I was that tragic geek

The single most important thing in a child's performance is the quality of the teacher. Making sure a child spends the maximum amount of time with inspirational teachers is the most important thing.

It is literally the case that learning languages makes you smarter. The neural networks in the brain strengthen as a result of language learning.

Learning a foreign language, and the culture that goes with it, is one of the most useful things we can do to broaden the empathy and imaginative sympathy and cultural outlook of children.

Proper history teaching is being crushed under the weight of play-based pedagogy which infantilises children, teachers and our culture.

I'm a decentralizer. I believe in trusting professionals.

It's often the case that successful people invite criticism.

I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris [Johnson] cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.

I have a different starting premise from those 100 academics who are so heavily invested in the regime of low expectations and narrow horizons which they have created.

I will take all the steps necessary to give the NHS at least another £100million per week by 2020.

I believed we needed someone who would be able to build a team, lead and unite. I hoped that person would be Boris Johnson.

You can always trust the man who died for you.

We know the quality of another’s heart through her voice.

There is no question that climate change is happening the only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it.

He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.

I have an idea heaven will be both absolutely happy and absolutely dark, to protect us from the blaze of God.

Friendship for me is made from a tapestry of personalities, each of whom shares a part of all I care about.

As Buddhism moved to the West, one of the big characteristics was the strong place of women. That didn't exist in the countries of origin. It's just a sign of our culture.

Up until the time I was 14 years old, I was sure that I was going to be a big-league baseball player. But that dream came to a rude awakening when I got cut from my high school baseball team.

For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.

Not all that tempts your wandering eyes And heedless hearts, is lawful prize; Nor all that glisters gold.