Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history since its statements are rather of the nature of universals whereas those of history are singulars.

Something as curious as the monarchy won't survive unless you take account of people's attitudes. After all if people don't want it they won't have it.

I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.

The record business is dangerous to the health of bands and individuals which is something I'm just now learning. But it's not dangerous in any of the ways people think it's not that they try to make you compromise your art. That's not the problem.

That's why I wrote this book: to show how these people can imbue us with hope. I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's like a tonic.

I should do something about the cigarettes I quite accept that it's bad for your health but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and at certain times absolutely essential.

I believe you need scientific proof that something works before you entrust your health to it.

When the Nobel award came my way it also gave me an opportunity to do something immediate and practical about my old obsessions including literacy basic health care and gender equity aimed specifically at India and Bangladesh.

The idea of making access to safe abortions harder and more expensive and more difficult having to travel across state lines - that puts women's health and lives in jeopardy which is something I think no one wants.

To help the poor to a capacity for action and liberty is something essential for one's own health as well as theirs: there is a needful gift they have to offer which cannot be offered so long as they are confined by poverty.