“If the Tories get in, in five years no one will be able to afford to buy an egg.”

[Criticizing as “appalingly complacent” a Conservative Government report that by the ’60s, Britain would be producing all the scientists needed] Of course we shall.

I’m an optimist, but I’m an optimist who takes his raincoat.

The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing.

He who rejects change is the architect of decay.

He who rejects change is the architect of decay.

Over and above communication and vigilance, there are two factors I have always mentioned. They are sleep, and a sense of history.

Tories never actually talk about getting rid of their leader, then suddenly there us a flash of steel between he shoulder-blades and rigormortis sets in.

All these financiers, all the little gnomes of Zürich and the other financial centres, about whom we keep on hearing.

The government have only a small majority in the House of Commons. I want to make it quite clear that this will not affect our ability to govern. Having been charged with the duties of Government we intend to carry out those duties.

We are redefining and we are restating our socialism in terms of the scientific revolution

In politics a week is a very long time.

I get a little nauseated, perhaps, when I hear the phrase ‘freedom of the press’ used as freely as it is, knowing that a large part of our proprietorial press is not free at all.

I’m going on, and the Labour government’s going on.

If I had the choice between smoked salmon and tinned salmon, I’d have it tinned. With vinegar.

If you rattle along at great speed everybody inside is too exhilarated or too seasick to cause any trouble. But if you stop everybody gets out and argues about where to go next.

Everybody should have an equal chance – but they shouldn’t have a flying start.

Twenty-five years ago, people talked about their obligations and responsibilities.

I predicted in 1950 that in five years, manufacturers the world over would be screaming for protection. It took only four years.

They have curiosity. ‘Who, what, where, why, when, and how!’ They never stop asking questions, and I never stop asking questions, just like a five year old.

The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly stressed Gulf of Mexico will permanently alter the nature of the area.

I’ve tried to give a dollar and 25 cents in work for every dollar paid me.

The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away from the four guys who haven’t made up their minds.

Retirement at sixty-five is ridiculous. When I was sixty-five I still had pimples.

I remember my first test in F1. After five laps, I came back to the pits and tried to play it cool – ‘Oh yeah, I’m fine, I’m on top of this’ – but I was completely lost.