If you turned your back on irony, it curdled into sarcasm. And what good was it then? Sarcasm was irony which had lost its soul.

Art is the whisper of history, heard above the noise of time.

Art is the whisper of history, heard above the noise of time. Art does not exist for art's sake: it exists for people's sake.

Music escapes from words: that is its purpose, and its majesty.

Perhaps this was one of the tragedies life plots for us: it is our destiny to become in old age what in youth we would have most despised.

Life always refused simplicity.

Tribalism is an addiction that is driven by false beliefs that need to be reflected back to be perceived as true.

The interior of the arms dealer's private jet was so ugly it hurt my feelings as well as my eyeballs.

The finest teaching touches in a student a spring neither teacher nor student could possibly have preconceived.

After all, to get the whole universe totally wrong in the face of clear evidence for over 75 years merits monumental embarrassment and should induce a modicum of humility.

Modesty is a virtue that can never thrive in public.

All blues singers are great liars.

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.

Abortion politics have distracted all sides from what is really essential: a major aid campaign to improve midwifery, prenatal care and emergency obstetric services in poor countries.

Audiences know what to expect, and that is all that they are prepared to believe in.

Undoubtedly the war with Iraq was a tragedy. I think it was also a crime.