"Today, hundreds of millions dwell in freedom, from the Baltic to the Adriatic, from the Western Approaches to the Aegean. And while we must never take this for granted, the first purpose of the European Union - to secure peace - has been achieved and we should pay tribute to all those in the EU, alongside Nato, who made that happen."

"I think we need to just be very clear about what we're trying to do in Afghanistan. Frankly, we're not trying to create the perfect democracy. We're never going to create some ideal society. We are simply there for our own national security."

"For me, and I suspect for lots of other people too, bad things actually sometimes make you think more about faith and the fact that you're not facing these things on your own."

"The biggest danger to the European Union comes not from those who advocate change, but from those who denounce new thinking as heresy. In its long history Europe has experience of heretics who turned out to have a point."

"The present moment is the only sanctuary where peace truly resides. This remains the cornerstone of personal mastery — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"There is hope for the future because God has a sense of humor and we are funny to God."

"An hour spent in deep contemplation is worth a year of unguided wandering. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"To be outspoken is easy when you do not wait to speak the complete truth."