I wrote in the book very specifically what I wanted to write about, period, and left it at.

People always seem to assume that we have a full, back-up support team - make-up, costume and a driver - but usually, in a war zone, there's only me and the cameraman.

On the Northern Ireland question, for instance, the British and Irish governments prohibit media contact with members of the IRA, but we have always gone ahead, believing in the right to information.

Hair is also a problem. I remember once, when I was reporting from Beirut at the height of the civil war, someone wrote in to the BBC complaining about my appearance.

I have no time for the endless nostalgia: 'Oh gosh I used to . . . ' Life is too short; I don't have any time for sitting and saying I miss things. What's the point? Go and do something else.'

My job is to get to the heart of a story, to find out what's really going on; to get it verified and, then, to get it out to as many people as possible as fast as.

I don't want to be involved in endless media gossip.

I was sent to a nice Church of England girls' school and at that time, after university, a woman was expected to become a teacher, a nurse or a missionary - prior to marriage.

The better the information it has, the better democracy works. Silence and secrecy are never good for it.

I never desired to go into war zones. I never had any thought about it. It sort of just happened as part of the job.

Now children as young as nine carry AK47s which can kill 30 people in seconds.

The city takes a breath on Sunday. Of all that’s lost with the pursuit of what’s next, I hope we don’t lose that…

It's a watch me watch you watching me kind of love

It was the beginning of the greatest Christmas ever. Little food. No presents. But there was a snowman in their basement.

The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.

Generally our confidences move downward rather than upward; in our secret affairs, we employ our inferiors much more than our bettors.

Most people who deal in words don't have much faith in them and I am no exception.

Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at.

I think there's an invisible principle of living too. If we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. It's a lovely sight, watching it work.

No day is safe from news of you.

I love everything that's beautiful. A lot of things.