In government you carry each hope; each disillusion. And in politics it's always about the next challenge.

I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if it's just a matter of conning the public. Actually, it's a matter of persuading the public, and in my experience, usually, the public gets it right.

Nine days of headlines should not obscure nine years of achievements. When you are in government you have to take the hard decisions and sometimes you make mistakes.

In no relationship at the top of any walk of life is it always easy, least of all in politics which matters so much and which is conducted in such a piercing spotlight.

She transformed the politics not just of Northern Ireland itself, but crucially of relations between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and it was this transformation that created the culture in which peace-making could flourish.

The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.