"People want the right to die at a time of their own choosing. Too many families have watched helplessly as a relative dies slowly, longing for death."

"Happiness is a real, objective phenomenon, scientifically verifiable. That means people and whole societies can now be measured over time and compared accurately with one another. Causes and cures for unhappiness can be quantified."

"There is all the difference in the world between teaching children about religion and handing them over to be taught by the religious."

"But how odd that in this heathen nation of empty pews, where churches' bare, ruined choirs are converted into luxury loft living, a Labour government - yes, a Labour government - is deliberately creating a huge expansion of faith schools."

"The war on terror, if this is a war on terror, can only be won by a sincere regional and international cooperation. All have to believe they have something at stake and work together. In the absence of this it will become political and interest-oriented."

"Men do weird things when they experience fear. It's like a fight-or-flight thing."

"My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me."

"I'm very opinionated, very intelligent and not afraid to show that."