Summary

This thought-provoking and fascinating collection has been newly enlarged and updated. From Machiavelli to Nelson Mandela, Antony Jay (author of the famous TV series Yes Minister) has chosen the words and ideas which have shaped the world we live in today. This new edition covers quotations generated by events such as the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, upheavals in the European Union, the re-election of George W. Bush, and the British Labour government's historic third term. And of course the gaffes and the back-biting that form the everyday currency of political in-fighting are fully detailed too. Misquotations, Slogans, and other special categories are grouped together for easier access, and an extensive index helps you to trace that half-remembered phrase.'I can only go one way. I've not got a reverse gear.' Tony Blair'I met Saddam Hussein exactly the same number of times as Donald Rumsfeld met him. The difference is that Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns' George Galloway'That's Lazarus with a triple bypass.' John Howard, when asked if he thought he could regain leadership of the Australian Liberal party'If I want to talk to Europe who do I call?' Henry Kissinger'The job of the Federal Reserve is to take away the punch bowl just when the party is getting good.' William McChesney Martin Jr.'We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.' Condoleezza Rice'No one is fit to be trusted with a secret who is not prepared, if necessary, to tell an untruth to defend it.' Lord Salisbury