The great drama of Russian history has been between its state and society. Put simply Russia has always had too much state and not enough society.

When great changes occur in history when great principles are involved as a rule the majority are wrong.

If you read about Mussolini or Stalin or some of these other great monsters of history they were at it all the time that they were getting up in the morning very early. They were physically very active. They didn't eat lunch.

The Jews' greatest contribution to history is dissatisfaction! We're a nation born to be discontented. Whatever exists we believe can be changed for the better.

I realise that I do not change the course of history. I am an actor I do a movie that's the end of it. You have to realise we are just clowns for hire. After I had success it was great at first not to worry about money. It was on my mind when I was growing up.

I've never been nostalgic personally or politically - if the past was so great how come it's history?

When I read Thirteen Days I was moved by it. It was just a great time for the world in terms of looking back in history and seeing how we got ourselves into trouble and how we got ourselves out of trouble.

The great and abiding lesson of American history particularly the cold war is that the engine of capitalism the individual is mightier than any collective.

History keeps her secrets longer than most of us. But she has one secret that I will reveal to you tonight in the greatest confidence. Sometimes there are no winners at all. And sometimes nobody needs to lose.

Great writing can be done in biography history art.