"The Bill of Rights was intended to secure freedom of speech - the freedom of speech of members of parliament to speak freely rather than be at threat of... the threat of an over powerful monarch at the time."

"Syria should not belong to one family, to one coterie, or to one party. It belongs to all the people of Syria equally, in all their religious and ethnic diversity."

"To the teacher weighed down with paperwork, I say: you've been messed around too often. You came into teaching to spend your time teaching children not filling in forms."

"We have to face the reality of climate change. It is arguably the biggest threat we are facing today."

"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."

"I think it's one of the main negative emotional ingredients that fuels show business, because there's so much at stake and the fear of failure looms large."

"Hunger and fear are the only realities in dog life: an empty stomach makes a fierce dog."

"I knew I wanted to be a writer and I knew if I had a wife and family, I would neglect something, and I was afraid it wouldn't be the writing."