Every empire suffers from hubris, arrogance and condescension, and therefore a moral blindness. That’s true of the American empire, it was true of the British Empireearlier, and it will certainly be true of the Chinese Empire in the future.

I am Scottish. I am also British.

I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.

The British nation is unique in this respect. They are the only people who like to be told how bad things are, who like to be told the worst.

I cannot help reflecting that if my father had been American and my mother British instead of the other way around, I might have gotten here on my own.

I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.