"I think the way things have been left after Iraq is that people won't believe the Government of the day, so they have to know that lessons have been learnt and that all political parties and people, whether they were for or against the invasion of Iraq, have learnt lessons."

"Governments that use violence to stop democratic development will not earn themselves respite forever. They will pay an increasingly high price for actions which they can no longer hide from the world with ease, and will find themselves on the wrong side of history."

"Syria should not belong to one family, to one coterie, or to one party. It belongs to all the people of Syria equally, in all their religious and ethnic diversity."

"At a time of such hope and optimism in the Middle East, we cannot let the Libyan government violate every principle of international law and human rights with impunity."

"We lavish on animals the love we are afraid to show to people. They might not return it; or worse, they might."

"It is a quiet truth that fear will knock at every door; only those with resolved hearts refuse to let it enter — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Cruelty is softened by fear, not pity."

"What I fear most is power with impunity. I fear abuse of power, and the power to abuse."