Quotes from Robert Harris

But if you seek power," he said, almost to himself, "and if you are a new man, this is what you have to do. Nobody is ever going to simply hand it to you.

Thirty years ago, the average British household contained enough food to last eight days; today the average is two days. It is no exaggeration to say that London, at any time, exists only six meals away from starvation.

Francis George: I expect to die in my bed, my successor will die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr in the public square.

The fortunes of war, gentlemen," he said, "can be cruel and capricious. But that is not the same as treason.

Truth, in other words, was a matter of perspective.

hates Pompey and is determined to defeat Spartacus before Pompey can return with his legions from Spain to take

An entire generation's correspondence and memories had vanished into this mysterious entity the antiquarians called 'The Cloud'.

The Munich conference," he muttered, "is a locomotive that cannot be stopped. In my opinion, it's useless even to try.

is one of the most potent myths in politics, believe me.

1979, with Andy Martin, one of my old friends from Footlights, acting as my best man. For our honeymoon, we borrowed Ruth's parents' cottage near Hay-on-Wye. After two blissful weeks, we returned to London, ready for the very different political fray following the election of Margaret Thatcher. That was the only substantial reference to her. I slowly worked my way through the

We are an ark.......surrounded by a rising flood of discord

Faith that cannot withstand the truth is not a faith worth holding.

We do not need a church that will move with the world, we need a church that will move the world!

that virtue is sufficient for happiness, that nothing except virtue is good, and that the emotions are not to be trusted—

I wouldn't have guessed you were a smoker', I said. 'I only ever allow myself one. And then only at times of great stress or great contentment'. 'Which is this?' 'Very funny.

Maybe so, but in politics how things look is often more important than what they are.

You're married? I notice you're not wearing a ring.' 'I can't, sadly. It's far too large. It bleeps when I go through airport security'.

If it is gratitude you want, get a dog.

take it one step at a time; approach the matter dispassionately; avoid a rush to judgement; confide in nobody until there is hard evidence.

ideal state might look like: "Who could object to that?" The answer, I

Death solves all problems – no man, no problem.' J. V. Stalin, 1918

Once in a lifetime You get to have it all But you never knew you had it Till you go and lose it all.

He looked like a lodger who always kept himself to himself, or a nightwatchman who disappeared in the morning as soon as the day shift arrived.

afecta a un solo hombre. No se nos ha advertido del tema que íbamos a tratar.