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.

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.

For a few spotty years, I was that tragic geek

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.

Much of your strength as a woman can come from the resolve to replenish and fill your own well and essence first, before taking care of others.

A fool always finds a greater fool to admire him.

If you’d just center your thoughts and affections upon the Lord, you’d be better off accidentally than you’ve ever been on purpose!

Humans are not machines-we are something more. We have feeling and experience. Material comforts are not sufficient to satisfy us. We need something deeper-human affection.

I am overrun, infested with a menagerie of desires.

Never let yourself get fooled by the same pitcher on the same pitch on the same day.

Maybe God has a bigger plan for me than I have for myself.

I came to town thinking that everybody had the same idea of what country music was that I did.

New beginnings and new shoots Spring again from hidden roots Pull or stab or cut or burn, Love must ever yet return.

When you make a decision to forgive it's a decision that you have to make intellectually.