It is quite wrong for party conferences to be used as an excuse for the Commons not to sit. Conferences could be held at weekends.

I've never been much given to little social cliques.

Fairness is not about statistical equality.

If someone is being very cheeky, it can be quite fun to deal with that situation.

For far too long the House of Commons has been run as little more than a private club by and for gentleman amateurs.

I pride myself on being courteous to people, and trying to fashion good relations.

I am seeking every day to restore faith in Parliament - to ensure we have a House of Commons which is representative, effective and reconnected to the people we serve.

I never aspired to be Speaker simply so I could say, 'I am the Speaker of the House of Commons,' and tell my children that.

I think the record shows that as Speaker, I have taken the lead in cleaning up politics.

I don't want to crawl over the entrails of past disputes.

It's a cowardly form of politics to use my spouse to beat me.

There's no God higher than truth.

It's pretty hard to be efficient without being obnoxious.

The marriage between potential and inspiration is pronounced by willingness. If one isn't there, then you will chase inspiration instead of it finding you.

In grammar school I read 'Act One' by Moss Hart, and being a playwright struck me as the most magical and romantic career anyone could have... But I never did write a play.

The only way I’d ever recruit a white quarterback to play for me is if his mom and daddy would both have to be black, and that’s the only way I would do it.

Women have been funny for years.

Worry is the last infirmity of the weak-minded.

It's very difficult to release an X-rated movie.

I can now focus on a huge audience through TV, books, cookware and foods.

I'm anxious to make another film.