I do not keep a diary. Never have. To write a diary every day is like returning to one's own vomit.

As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding. Like the Roman, I seem to see "the River Tiber foaming with much blood.

In the end, the Labour party could cease to represent labour. Stranger historic ironies have happened than that.

A politician complaining about the media is like a sailor complaining about the sea.

Independence, the freedom of a self-governing nation, is in my estimation the highest political good, for which any disadvantage, if need be, and any sacrifice are a cheap price.

All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.

The supreme function of statesmanship is to provide against preventable evils.

If my ship sails from sight, it doesn't mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends.

If I cannot understand my friend's silence, I will never get to understand his words.

People are disposed to mistake predicting troubles for causing troubles and even for desiring troubles.

The enemies of advertising are the enemies of freedom.

Be more concerned with character than reputation. Character is what you are, reputation is what people think you are.

[The Rum Diary] is a prestigious movie and it's got a great, talented cast, so they wanted to make sure they had the right person for the role, but it was a torturous process. It was painful.

I'd done a pilot [of Townies] with Caroline Rhea [Pride & Joy] that didn't go anywhere.

Knowledge being to be had only of visible and certain truth, error is not a fault of our knowledge, but a mistake of our judgment, giving assent to that which is not true.

Be like the rocky headland on which the waves constantly break. It stands firm, and round it the seething waters are laid to rest.

When you are present, the world is truly alive.

For the wise man delights in establishing his merit, the brave man likes to show his courage in action, the covetous man is quick at seizing advantages, and the stupid man has no fear of death.

If failure had no penalty success would not be a prize.

My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.

I love being able to be the artist of the whole picture, as opposed to just one of the brushes.