I have no way of knowing how people really feel but the vast majority of those I meet couldn't be nicer. Every once in a while someone barks at me. My New Year's resolution is not to bark back.

What I'm not saying is that all government spending is bad. It's not - far far from it but there is no free lunch as a former colleague of mine used to say. There is no public tooth fairy. Father Christmas does not work on the Treasury staff this year. You can never bail someone out of trouble without putting someone else into trouble.

I went back to work because someone had to pay for the groceries.

I don't think balance is something you get from someone else it's something women have to find from within. For me finding balance is still a work in progress.

If you ask men why they did a good job they'll say 'I'm awesome. Obviously. Why are you even asking?' If you ask women why they did a good job what they'll say is someone helped them they got lucky they worked really hard.

I wouldn't want my daughters to date a guy like me. I was dangerous around women in my twenties. I'm terrified that they might end up with someone like me.

I don't mind a dirty girl. But what I find tragic is when we as women become not the subject of our own story but someone else's object.

Good women always think it is their fault when someone else is being offensive. Bad women never take the blame for anything.

You women could make someone fall in love even with a lie.

What could be more lonely than to be enveloped in silence to be the last of your people to speak your native tongue to have no way to pass on the wisdom of the elders to anticipate the promise of the children. This tragic fate is indeed the plight of someone somewhere roughly every two weeks.

I'm someone who's done the opposite of whatever the received wisdom is to keep your career going into your 50s.

The wisdom of God's Word is quite clear on believers being unequally yoked. And marrying someone who is not a Christian - who is not a daily disciple of Christ - is being unequally yoked regardless of what their beliefs might be.

On the publicity tour of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding ' I was asked over and over again if as the writer I felt it was a fair depiction of real life to have someone of my er below average looks hook up with hottie John Corbett.

I've never crashed a wedding. When I was a kid I of course used to crash parties. Crashing a wedding is difficult though because you have to have the suit and you have to have information in case someone catches you. You have to know at least some names and something.

After every war someone has to tidy up.

I think I'm just someone that just tries to get by. I'm kind of - if it was during the Second World War I'd be a black marketeer I think.

I remember an article I can't recall who by it was after the fall of the Berlin Wall which said that now the Wall was down there could be no more class war. Only someone with money could ever say such a thing.

You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie but if you have plans for a war in Iraq and you want to keep them secret for practical reasons - to reduce casualties perhaps - and someone asks you about those plans you may need to lie for a 'good' outcome.

The rule for effective governance is simple. It is one Ronald Reagan knew by heart. And one that he successfully employed with Social Security and the Cold War. When there is a problem you fix it. That is the job you have been sent to do and you cannot wait for someone else to do it for you.

Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It's the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost. And that someone else's pain is as meaningful as your own.

Also I used to think that one day I might get someone to iron my shirts but the truth is I really like doing them myself.

I'm someone who believes the truth needs to be heard. And if I'm empowered with the truth I'm not going to shut up.

A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth and telling the truth has never hurt me.

Reclaiming the word 'fat' was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth because the truth is that I am fat and that's ok. So now when someone calls me fat I agree whereas before I would get embarrassed and emotional.