The monarchy is finished. It was finished a while ago, but they're still making the corpses dance.

Will you lie to me and promise to read them? Books need to be read. The pages need to be turned.

Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old golden Labrador.

Love is the only thing that keeps me sane.

I married two weeks after my 18th birthday, far too young, and by the time I was 23 I was a single mother of three small children, Sean, Daniel and Victoria, living in a prefab house.

Most social problems could be helped or prevented if people had more money and practical advice.

I don't know why women are so mad about flowers. Personally, they leave me cold. I prefer trees.

Every time I start a new piece of work, I spend a long while under the duvet thinking I can't do it.

There's only one thing more boring than listening to other people's dreams, and that's listening to their problems.

I think we take it for granted that if you are with your husband after 30 years, then he is the love of your life.

I am from the working class. I am now what I was then. No amount of balsamic vinegar and Prada handbags could make me forget what it was like to be poor.

The only difference between a grown-up's mistake and a child's is the size of the consequence.

Don't let success lead to arrogance and failure lead to criticism.

Barbarus hic ego sum, quia non intelligor illis.(In this place I am a barbarian, because men do not understand me.)

There is a safe spot within every tornado. My job is to find it.

Coincidences are God's way of getting our attention.

No moon, sun, diamond, hands — fingertip, dot, ray, gauze, sea. pine green, pink glass, eye, mine, eraser, mud, mother, I am coming.

There is no greater leadership challenge than parenting.

As a 12-year-old, I think everything seems scary.

Retrench in everything that is bad and worthless, and improve in everything that is good and beautiful.

Honour your daughters, trust them and most importantly, educate them.