"In rising financial markets, the world is forever new. The bull or optimist has no eyes for past or present, but only for the future, where streams of revenue play in his imagination."

"We read too much Shakespeare at school, and view our parliamentary politics as dynastic drama, in which an impatient crown prince frets at his long subordination and begins to scheme for the throne he knows he merits, was promised and has earned."

"There are signs that the age of petroleum has passed its zenith. Adjusted for inflation, a barrel of crude oil now sells for three times its long-run average. The large western oil companies, which cartellised the industry for much of the 20th century, are now selling more oil than they find, and are thus in the throes of liquidation."

"Is there any purpose to translating poetry? A poem does not contain information of importance, like a signpost or a warning notice."

"Beauty in art is the harmony of spirit, intellect, and craft. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history."

"Vision without execution is fantasy; execution without vision is chaos. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history."

"Patience is not passive waiting; it is active endurance with a calm countenance. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"There have been in this century only one great man and one great thing: Napoleon and liberty. For want of the great man, let us have the great thing."