Silence is an ornament for women.

Men should pledge themselves to nothing; for reflection makes a liar of their resolution.

Whoever neglects the arts when he is young has lost the past and is dead to the future.

Not to be born is, past all prizing, best.

The right of election is the very essence of the constitution.

Not all political actors share our vision of fighting terrorism, lessening tensions in the region and focusing on building the economy. It is natural that they would challenge the government, but we have fought every challenge effectively. The daily ups and down of democracy should not be interpreted as lack of stability.

Liberal democracy must finally become the vital element of our society.

The '50s in general are written off as a boring decade following the turmoil of the Second World War and its immediate aftermath - the postwar Labour government, the cold war, the arrival of the New Look in fashion, etc. But I remember it as a very exciting time - a pioneering, rule-breaking time, especially for the young.